KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Western Michigan University designated hitter Dylan Nevar hit a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning in a 14-3 baseball win over Ohio University Sunday afternoon.
The win completed WMU’s third MAC sweep of the season, making it the first time Western Michigan has swept three conference series since 2012. It was also the first time the Broncos had swept the Bobcats since 2011. WMU has now won six straight home games, its longest home winning streak since a seven-game run in 2006.
Nevar reached in all five of his plate appearances in the contest, as he tied his career high with four hits and also drew a walk. The redshirt sophomore’s grand slam was his second of the season, and helped him equal his career high with six RBIs.
The Broncos wasted no time in grabbing the lead, as they pushed across six in the bottom of the first inning. Three straight RBI singles by Jimmy Allen, Nevar and Josh Swinehart opened the scoring for the Brown & Gold. Nevar then raced home on a wild pitch, Greg Budig brought in a run with a single, and the sixth tally of the frame scored on an Ohio error.
Ohio answered with a pair in the top of the second, but WMU responded in the home half with another run-scoring base hit by Nevar to make it 7-2.
The Bobcats tallied another in the third, but WMU threw out a runner at the plate and DJ Thompson came on to get the final out of the frame to keep the margin at four, 7-3.
Western Michigan again answered OU’s run with one of its own in the bottom of the third inning, as Will Morrison knocked in Grady Mee to push the advantage back to five, 8-3.
The margin remained five until the sixth, when Gavin Doyle led off the frame with a solo blast to left field. Later in the inning, Mee plated Nevar with a sacrifice fly to make it 10-3.
In the seventh, a single, a walk and a hit batter loaded the bases with nobody out. One out later, Nevar drilled his grand slam into the right field corner to end the contest and seal the sweep for the Broncos.
Thompson retired the first eight batters he faced on his way to a career-high 4.1 scoreless innings of relief. The lone threat against the freshman came in the sixth, as Ohio loaded the bases with one out, but a double play got WMU out of the jam unscathed. Thompson picked up the win for the Broncos, his second of the campaign.
Western Michigan closes out the regular season with a three-game series against rival Central Michigan. The series begins on Thursday afternoon from Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field, with first pitch set for 3:05 p.m.
courtesy WMU Athletics
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