WMU News

Baseball Broncos sweep Sunday doubleheader

April 17, 2000

KALAMAZOO -- The WMU baseball team recorded its first Mid-American Conference doubleheader sweep of the year with a sweep of Eastern Michigan on Sunday (April 16) at Hyames Field.

Sophomore Kody Naylor and senior Matt Vriesenga both recorded complete game victories in WMU's sweep. Naylor earned the win in the Broncos' 3-1 victory in game one while Vriesenga was credited with the win in Western Michigan's 5-3 triumph in the nightcap.

The Broncos split a Saturday (April 15) doubleheader with Eastern Michigan, also at Hyames Field, to claim three of four games played this past weekend. Western Michigan improved to 16-16 overall, 5-7 in the MAC. The Broncos host rival Central Michigan on Saturday (April 22) at 1 p.m. at Hyames Field. WMU plays at CMU on Sunday (April 23).

WMU 5 Eastern Michigan 3 (Sunday, April 15)

Senior Matt Vriesenga scattered six hits in seven innings, struck out eight EMU batters and did not issue one free pass to help WMU post its first sweep of the conference season. The senior improved to 2-1 on the year.

After Eastern Michigan scored twice in the top of the first, WMU answered back with four runs in its half of the inning. Tim Bellestri and Ryan Kochen singled to start the frame. John Toner then singled to score Bellestri. James Galla delivered a bases-loaded single to score Toner and Kochen. Galla would later score on a bases-loaded walk to Jason Richards. Galla drove in Kochen with a single in the bottom of the fourth inning for an insurance run. The Eagles added an unearned run in the top of the seventh but Vriesenga worked out of a bases-loaded jam by getting Tony Palazzolo to ground out to Steve Horn to end the game.

Bellestri and Toner finished the day 2-3 at the plate. Kochen, Toner, and Richards all drove in one run each.

WMU 3 Eastern Michigan 1 (Sunday, April 15)

WMU starter Kody Naylor turned in a very strong effort on the mound, allowing just three hits in seven innings. Naylor fanned three and walked two to improve to 3-3 on the year. Tim Bellestri and John Toner both went 2-3 at the plate. Toner, Ryan Kochen, and Jason Richards each knocked in one run.

Kochen's sacrifice fly in the third inning scored Richards and tied the game at 1-1. WMU took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth. Joe Seestadt reached on an error and advanced to third on James Galla's double to left. After a walk to Greg Graham loaded the bases, Richards hit a sacrifice fly to right to plate Seestadt. Toner added an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth, scoring Kochen.

Media contact: Geoff Brown; 616 387-4138; geoffrey.brown@wmich.edu


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