WMU News

Baseball Broncos take one of four games at Northern Illinois

April 30, 2000

KALAMAZOO -- The WMU baseball team was swept by Northern Illinois in a Mid-American Conference doubleheader on Saturday (April 29) and split a doubleheader on Sunday (April 30) in DeKalb, Ill.

Western Michigan is now 7-13 in MAC play and fell to fourth place in the MAC West Division. WMU is 19-23 overall. Northern Illinois moved ahead of the Broncos in the MAC West standings with the 3-1 advantage in the weekend series. NIU is now 8-10 in conference play, 21-24 for all games. The top three teams from each division qualify for the MAC Tournament.

Western Michigan's next home action is May 9, when it hosts Michigan State at 7 p.m. at Sutherland Field, Kalamazoo.

Sunday, April 30

On Sunday, the Broncos lost the opener, 3-2, in eight innings, but rallied for a 3-0 victory in the second game, also in eight innings.

Saturday, April 29

In Saturday's contests, WMU fell 9-7 in the opener and lost a 7-6 squeaker in Game Two. WMU led in both contests but could not hold off the Huskies.

A five-run second inning gave the Broncos a 5-2 lead in the opener, but Northern Illinois answered back with two runs in the bottom of the second to close the gap. The Huskies scored once in the fourth and two times in both the fifth and sixth to take the lead and the win.

Josh Clark took the loss in Game One. He allowed two runs in 1 1/3 innings of relief work. Angelo Palazeti started for Western Michigan. He pitched 4 innings, allowing seven hits and seven runs, six of which were earned. He fanned one batter.

James Galla drove in four runs on a 2-4 day at the plate. Ryan Kochen also collected two hits in four trips to the plate. Kochen, John Toner, and Greg Graham each drove in a run for the Broncos. WMU committed four errors in the loss.

Western Michigan led 4-2 after three innings in the nightcap but saw the Huskies tie the game in the bottom of the fourth. NIU added a solo run in the fifth to take a 5-4 lead. After WMU scored twice to take a 6-5 lead, Northern Illinois scored twice in its half of the sixth.

John Toner went 2-4 with a run scored and two RBI. Ryan Kochen was 3-4, scored twice, and drove in a run. Joe Seestadt collected two hits in three trips to the plate. He also drove in a run, as did Chris Richter.

Matt Vriesenga was tagged with the loss. He allowed one run in a 1/3 of an inning. Sophomore Keith Perez got the starting assignment. He allowed five runs, all earned, and nine hits in four innings. He fanned three and walked three. Shawn Morrison threw 1 2/3 innings of relief, allowing one run and two hits.

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


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