AVON, Ohio — No. 5 Western Michigan (27-24) defeated No. 6 Ball State (25-30) in an 8–6 victory in a win-or-go home at ForeFront Field on Thursday. The Broncos secured the win with a total of 15 hits and four doubles, while its pitching staff struck out five Cardinals batters.
The Broncos will learn their matchup for tomorrow's game based on results from other tournament matchups.
Ball State managed to keep the game close with 10 hits and two runs in the seventh inning but was unable to overcome Western Michigan's lead. Western Michigan has now won three consecutive games against Ball State this season.
Western Michigan's team performance was highlighted by key contributions from several standout players. Tanner Mally excelled offensively, leading with three hits and scoring two runs, demonstrating effective presence as a center fielder. Mally’s performance was particularly noteworthy as he extended his hitting streak to eight games, a testament to his consistent offensive prowess.
Avery Thielman was instrumental at first base, securing four hits and driving in two runs, contributing to the team's scoring efforts. Michael Maloney showcased his skills at shortstop, crossing home plate three times and drawing three walks, one of which was intentional, indicating his strategic batting approach.
Lucas Rick, serving as designated hitter, added two RBIs to the team's tally, while Mark Mennecke matched this contribution with two RBIs of his own, highlighting depth in the lineup. These performances were crucial in driving the Broncos' competitive edge.
Ball State's standout performers feature Brady Davidson, who made a significant impact with four hits and two runs, showcasing his offensive capabilities early in the season. Davidson’s performance marked his first four-hit game of the season, a significant achievement for the player. Jack Bakus contributed with two hits, including a double, and added an RBI and a run to his tally, demonstrating his effectiveness at the plate. Brett Griffiths also delivered a solid performance with two hits, including a triple, and recorded an RBI and a run. On the mound, Keegan Johnson put in a notable relief effort, pitching 4.1 innings while striking out two batters, despite being charged with the loss. These players highlighted their potential to influence future games with their performances.
Postgame Quotes
Western Michigan Head coach Billy Gernon
"We were talking on the way over here today. I think we're 9-6 in one-run ballgames, something like 5-3 in two-run ballgames. I expected this one was gonna be close. Especially after last night, we just didn't, didn't play well, didn't hit well, and it was credit to the pitcher (NIU's Max Vaisvila) more than anything. We had three quality at-bats the entire game. To come back on short rest and no sleep to bounce back, get the relief appearance we did from Adam Lehman, then one of the better late-inning guys that's ever pitched in the MAC Turner Doran to go out there and do what he did. Then for me, nothing feels better than to see a senior get a clutch hit like that when they feel the clock ticking on their career. I'm just really, really happy for Avery (Thielman) and that was such a big hit with two outs.
"I can’t not mention Ricky Kidd and the backbone he’s been for us all year. I think I told you pregame — we’d won six of his last starts coming in, and now it’s seven. He’s been dealing with some forearm tightness for the last four weeks, and Zach Putnam, our pitching coach, has done a great job with him.
"But Ricky went out there and grinded away. Then, when we had to go to the bullpen early, it was like, ‘Alright, here we go.’ It’s an elimination game — you’ve got to figure out how to win, survive, and move on.
"Lehman was really good today. The fastball was electric and had great ride to it. He commanded the breaking ball in multiple counts. Then they got the base hit off him, followed by the one down the line, but we still felt really good about leaving him in there. Then we got the ground ball — it was a tough play, and (Mason) Pilarski misplayed it, which tied the game.
"Credit to our guys. We came in and said we were just going to play hard, and whatever our destiny was, we were going to live with it. We talked about being great at the ordinary, and we were much better at the ordinary today than we were yesterday. That led to a really big win for our club.”
