YPSILANTI, Mich. (Interstat) — Avery Thielman powered a historic day at the plate and three Western Michigan pitchers combined on an unconventional six-hit shutout as the Broncos routed Eastern Michigan 12-3 on Sunday afternoon at Oestrike Stadium to claim the Mid-American Conference series.

The most important part of the game was its explosive beginning. Western Michigan sent nine men to the plate in the top of the first inning, scoring five runs on four hits and capitalizing on a critical Eastern Michigan error. The Broncos opened with three consecutive singles, the last an RBI hit by Mark Mennecke. A fielder’s choice brought in another run before Thielman, the game’s top star, delivered a two-run double that was compounded by an error on the Eagles’ shortstop, allowing a third run to score. The early outburst set a dominant tone from which Eastern Michigan never recovered.

Western Michigan (19-15, 3-3 MAC) broke the game open in the third inning against Eagles starter Pfeiffer. After two quick outs, Thielman launched a two-run homer to left field, and Josh Polubinski followed with a solo shot to left-center, prompting an Eastern Michigan pitching change. Thielman added a solo homer in the sixth and an RBI single in the eighth, finishing a perfect 4 for 4 with two home runs, a double, five RBIs and three runs scored. The first baseman is now 7 for 12 with three homers and eight RBIs in the series.

The Broncos’ pitching performance was statistically unique. Starter Ricky Kidd earned the win, working six innings and allowing all three Eastern Michigan runs on six hits with two strikeouts. However, relievers Evan Shapiro and Matt Hoover were flawless over the final three frames. Shapiro struck out three in two hitless innings, and Hoover struck out one in a perfect ninth. The trio’s combined line resulted in a shutout by the bullpen despite the three runs charged to Kidd.

Eastern Michigan (11-26, 2-4) managed only one sustained rally, scoring two runs in the sixth on an RBI single by Stecko and a run-scoring single by SCHECHTERMA. Tristan Crane had two of the Eagles’ six hits, including a double. The Eagles used seven pitchers, with Fischer Hendershot providing 2 1/3 innings of relief, allowing one run, and Gregory Kennedy throwing 1 1/3 scoreless innings late.

Western Michigan’s offense produced 13 hits. Polubinski went 2 for 4 with a home run, a double, two RBIs and three runs scored. Mennecke added two hits and an RBI, and Zajac N. contributed a two-run single in a three-run seventh inning that extended the lead.

The victory gave Western Michigan the series win after the teams split the first two games. The Broncos’ offense outperformed the projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a 7-3 Western Michigan win. The simulator’s ELO system gave the Broncos a 62.5% probability of victory.

Western Michigan next travels to face Valparaiso on Tuesday. Eastern Michigan begins a road series at Northern Illinois on Friday.