Preview: Western Michigan at Eastern Michigan

YPSILANTI, Mich. (Interstat) — The Western Michigan Broncos and Eastern Michigan Eagles will conclude their three-game Mid-American Conference series under the lights Sunday at Oestrike Stadium, with rain and a temperature near 57 degrees in the forecast.

The series is tied after a split of the first two games. Eastern Michigan (11-25) took the opener 4-3 on Friday before Western Michigan (18-15) evened it with a 12-7 victory Saturday.

A player to watch for the Broncos is right-hander Sam Carlisle, who earned the win in relief Saturday. Over his last four appearances, Carlisle is 4-0 with 32 strikeouts in 24 1/3 innings, including a 13-strikeout, one-hit shutout performance against Massachusetts on March 28.

Eastern Michigan will look for a stronger outing from reliever Carter White. He provided 2 2/3 scoreless innings Saturday but has struggled recently, allowing six earned runs over his last 1 1/3 innings pitched across two appearances prior.

Offensively, Western Michigan’s Tanner Mally and Avery Thielman drove in three runs apiece in Saturday’s win. For the Eagles, Devan Zirwas hit a two-run homer in the loss.

The Broncos have won seven of their last ten games. The Eagles have lost 10 of their last 12.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, the projected final score is Western Michigan 7, Eastern Michigan 3.

Following Sunday’s game, Western Michigan visits Valparaiso on Tuesday. Eastern Michigan’s next action is a series at Northern Illinois starting Friday.