Preview: Western Michigan at Akron

AKRON, Ohio (Interstat) — Mid-American Conference rivals Western Michigan and Akron will meet for the second game of their weekend series Saturday at InfoCision Stadium.

First pitch is scheduled for the afternoon. The forecast calls for cloudy skies and 66 degrees.

The Broncos (5-7) edged the Zips (6-8) 4-3 in Friday’s series opener. Western Michigan reliever Zach Vriesenga was pivotal in the win, throwing 4 2/3 hitless innings with six strikeouts.

Vriesenga, a player to watch for the Broncos, has not allowed a hit in his last three appearances spanning 8 2/3 innings. Over that stretch, he has 11 strikeouts.

Akron will look to even the series behind Brady Bowen. The right-hander delivered a quality start in Friday’s loss, allowing one earned run over 6 2/3 innings. In his last two outings, Bowen has surrendered just one run in 10 2/3 combined innings.

The Zips have lost four of their last five games. Western Michigan has won three of its last four.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 6-4 Akron victory. However, the service’s ELO rating system gives Western Michigan a 63.3% probability to win.

The series concludes Sunday.