A Historic Matchup
The Western Michigan baseball team enters the 2026 Mid‑American Conference Tournament as the fifth seed and will open play on Wednesday against fourth‑seeded Northern Illinois. This marks the first time the two programs meet in the league tournament, though the Broncos hold a 58‑45‑1 all‑time edge over the Huskies.
Just days earlier, Western Michigan completed a three‑game sweep in Kalamazoo that ended the regular season. Drew Howard delivered the decisive blow with a walk‑off single, finishing the series 8‑for‑16 and driving in a team‑high six runs.
Right‑hander Ricky Kidd anchored the weekend with six scoreless innings on Friday, earning his seventh win of the season and the conference’s Pitcher of the Week honor. Kidd’s dominance continued as he went 7‑0 in his 11 conference starts, including a six‑inning stretch that helped the Broncos close out the series.
At the plate, Tanner Mally leads the nation in batting average (.448) and ranks second in on‑base percentage (.559). His 82 hits tie him for the conference lead, leaving him four shy of the program’s single‑season record.
Michael Maloney has reached base in 36 straight games and is batting .357, while Avery Thielman contributed a .373 average during MAC play and sits among the league’s top‑10 hitters. Together, they give the lineup depth that complements Mally’s production.
Defensively, the Broncos boast a .979 fielding percentage, the best in the MAC and 25th nationally, and they lead the league with 39 sacrifice bunts, a stat that ranks 22nd in the country.
Head coach Billy Gernon brings a 13‑13 tournament record and is known for pulling off upsets against higher seeds; he has already guided the team to championships in 2016 and 2024. With a 17‑31 all‑time tournament slate and a recent sweep of Northern Illinois, the Broncos aim to extend their winning streak and defend the 2024 title.
The upcoming matchup will also feature Nolan Zajac and Mason Pilarski, who have contributed key innings and solid hitting throughout the season, adding depth to a roster that looks poised for another deep run.