EAST LANSING (Interstat) — A four-run fourth inning fueled by two Western Michigan errors lifted Michigan State to an 8-3 victory over the Broncos on Wednesday afternoon at McLane Stadium.

The Spartans improved to 18-28, while Western Michigan dropped to 22-20.

Michigan State tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the third inning. Nick Williams tripled to right center and scored on a groundout by Nathan Bright. Parker Picot then homered down the left field line to even the score.

The decisive rally came an inning later. With one out, D.J. Murphy singled off reliever Jake Wizceb and stole second. Williams followed with a double to right center, plating Murphy and putting the Spartans ahead 4-3. Nathan Bright then singled to left field, and Williams scored when left fielder Cade Hums misplayed the ball for an error. Bright advanced to second on the play. Kade Thomas then reached on a fielding error by second baseman Tyler Malley, allowing Bright to score and Thomas to take second. The Spartans extended the lead to 6-3 on the unearned runs, and Western Michigan never recovered.

Michigan State added two more runs in the fifth inning. Chase Deckinga singled, advanced to third on a single by Ryan McKay, and scored on a base hit by Ryan Seymour. Later, a sacrifice bunt by A.J. Broski brought home McKay, making it 8-3.

Western Michigan had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Dylan Howard doubled and scored on a single by Lucas Rick. The Broncos added two more runs in the top of the first inning when Michigan State second baseman Tyler Malley committed a fielding error that allowed a run to score, though the official scoring credited an error. However, the Broncos stranded two runners in the first and were limited to just one hit in the inning.

The Broncos threatened in the top of the eighth when Rick singled with one out, but he was left stranded. In the ninth, Western Michigan loaded the bases with a hit by pitch, a single and a fielder’s choice, but only managed one unearned run on a groundout by Michael Maloney.

Rick finished with three hits, including a solo home run in the sixth inning that cut the deficit to 8-4, but the Spartans held on. The home run was Rick’s team-leading 12th of the season.

Michigan State starter Brady Chambers lasted 3 1-3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits. Andrew Siler earned the win after pitching 1 2-3 innings of scoreless relief. Logan Pikur, Gannon Grundman and Colin Szczepanski combined to finish the game, allowing one unearned run.

For Western Michigan, starter Matt Maloney was lifted after two innings. The bullpen struggled in the fourth and fifth innings, with Wizceb, Evan Shapiro and Ty Tomlinson each allowing runs.

The Spartans outhit the Broncos 12-11. Williams finished with a triple and a double, two runs scored and two RBIs. Picot added a home run and a run batted in.

Western Michigan’s offense managed only three runs despite 11 hits, leaving 10 runners on base. The Broncos went 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position.

The loss came after Western Michigan had won three of its previous four games, including a 10-11 victory over Miami (Ohio) on Sunday.

Michigan State, coming off a 12-4 win over Bowling Green on Tuesday, has now won three of its last four.

Western Michigan next travels to Bowling Green for a three-game series starting Friday. Michigan State opens a three-game series at Ohio State on Friday.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Western Michigan 5, Michigan State 4, while its ELO system gave Michigan State a 63.30 percent probability to win.