Broncos take MAC opener, drop last two

By Scott Sierzenga
Western Herald

Despite a winning performance on Friday against the University of Akron, the Western Michigan University baseball team finished the weekend off cold, dropping two games on Saturday.

With a Goliath-like performance by Casey Webber, the Akron Zips (13-9, 2-1 Mid-American Conference) were left defenseless and befuddled as the Broncos went on to win the first game of their MAC season, 3-2.

Sophomore Casey Webber came out and pitched a gem, throwing seven shutout innings and allowing only four hits.

“It was awesome,” Bronco head coach Randy Ford said about Webbers effort. “He came back from mono and pitched in two games throwing only 100 pitches and came out and threw today. We were just trying to monitor how he felt.”

It wasn’t only his health that had changed, but a his mindset as well.

“Last week I threw a lot of pitches and tried to strike guys out and my pitch count went up,” Webber said. “I thought about that during the week and today I was just trying to get guys out.”

After a disappointing beginning to their season, the Broncos needed a start like this to change the mentality of their team, both pitching and offensively.

“I think Casey’s [Webber] effort today showed that our pitchers have heart,” sophomore Ryan McMillin said. “The way he worked people, the way he held runners on was key for us.”

Keeping runners close and giving up free bases plagued the Broncos last weekend as they gave up 13 stolen bases. Webber saw fit to prevent that as the lefty picked two runners off and had their base runners on their heels for the rest of the game after that.

“It certainly set the tone,” Ford said. “Hopefully we can continue to stop the running game with our other guys. Today demonstrated how important it is to not give up the free 90 footers.”

Webber certainly appreciates his pick-off move.

“It’s nice to have it when the lead off guy gets on,” Webber said. “It’s a big relief.”

The Brown and Gold did all their damage at the plate in the first two innings, when they plated all three of their runs. A two-out single in the first by Chris Lewis followed by a passed ball and a throwing error allowed Lewis to advance to third and gave Jamie Simpson the chance smack an RBI single.

With one out in the second, McMillin took an outside pitch to right field with a single. The Broncos rallied off three straight singles and loaded the bases for Kyle Galbraith, who hit a deep sacrifice fly to centerfield to score the run.

Freshman Jimmy Martinez then hit an RBI single to plate the third run of the game for the Broncos.

McMillin finished the game 2-for-4 with a run as WMU strung together nine hits total on the day. Freshman Brooks Beilke was the only other Bronco with multiple hits, having two of his own.

The sense of urgency early in the game offensively set the tone for the rest of the game.

“I think Wednesday’s game was important to play at home and get a little confidence with the addition of our guys who haven’t gone on a trip and the guys who have and saw us struggle,” Ford said.

But the Zips didn’t just roll over and die. Once Webber was removed, a weight was lifted off their chest and they were able to provide a little pressure in the eighth inning to the Broncos, scoring a run and stranding two guys.

Mosher came in with one out in the eighth and runners on first and third and was able to get the first batter to ground into a double play to end the threat. Mosher gave up one run in the ninth but was able to hold off the Zips en route to the Western Michigan’s (4-17, 1-2) first MAC win of the season.

“It’s nice to start our especially with a win at home,” McMillin said. “Finding our comfort level and focus has been very important.”

The problem is the rest of the pitching staff didn’t follow suit. While Webber allowed a measly four hits in his seven innings, the pitching staff allowed 36 hits in the other 20 innings that were pitched.

Western Michigan allowed 32 hits in games two and three combined, allowing a total of 20 runs. In fact, the line score looked nearly identical from games two and three with the Broncos losing 10-2, 10-3 respectively.

WMU gave up 17 hits in the second game, 15 in the third as well as allowing the bulk of their runs in the early middle innings.

Due to rain in the area, the Broncos played a doubleheader Saturday to complete the series.

In the first game, the Zips came out swinging, pounding line drives all over the field. They scored two runs in the second and one run in the third to take a 3-0 lead early. The Broncos had no answer offensively being held two only two hits until the ladder third of the game. Akron’s Andrew Brown threw a complete game giving up only two earned runs.

“We’re not putting together an offensive attack,” Ford said. “They hit the ball well.”

After starter Eric Heckaman and relief pitcher Kyle Strube allowed a five run sixth, a weight was put on the Broncos for the rest of the day.

“It shouldn’t have, but it really did,” Lewis said about Akron’s hot bats setting the tone for the day. “They started off the game striking the ball and putting on runs.”

Heckaman went five innings, allowing six earned on 12 hits. Strube did a nice job in relief, allowing only one earned in three innings but the damage was already done.

Freshman Chris Bossenberry was the only Bronco with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with a run.

Game Two of the doubleheader looked identical to the first, except the Brown and Gold were already down.

Akron started off the game with a run in the first but WMU responded with one of their own after Kyle Galbraith led off the game with a single and a sac bunt moved him to second, allowing a Lewis double to bring him home.

The Zips responded with three in the second, one in the third and four in the fourth inning to bring the score to 9-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth. The Broncos got one back, making it 9-2, but Akron didn’t look back from there.

Lewis, Galbraith and McMillin each had two hits and an RBI for the Broncos in the second game. The three-hit day bumps Lewis into a tie for third all-time for career hits.

“It started off promising with a win,” Ford said. “Today, pitching wasn’t as good. I tip my hat to them. Their hitters did a nice job today. Hopefully we can figure out all our hitting woes and put some games together.”

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Posted by heraldstaff on Mar 28 2010. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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