For the second time this season, an Area Game of the Week featuring WMU and Highland baseball lived up to the hype. In similar fashion, the Wolves pulled off a late comeback to hand the Huskies just their third conference loss, 4-2.

Highland’s Colten Sypherd and WMU’s Trevor Phillips proved there was more than one way to get it done on the mound. For Sypherd, it was pitching to contact, not surrendering the big hit, and getting a perfect outing from the defense behind him. Phillips meanwhile used his offspeed to keep the Huskies on their toes, fanning 10 and allowing just one hit.

Bryce Hazelett had that hit to lead off a scoreless tie in the third. He was followed by Caleb Wheeler reaching on an error. Both came around to score, and Highland enjoyed that lead until the sixth. The Wolves finally got to Sypherd with four consecutive hits, the last a two-run double from Phillips. Riley Kaalberg and Cole Milks were the beneficiaries, and would be soon followed by Lane Genkinger. Now ahead 3-2, Kohlby Newsom had his third hit for WMU in the seventh, and would come around on a Kaalberg triple.

The Wolves looked to Kason Dopler to close things out. The sophomore was dominant in his first inning of relief, but loaded the bases with one away in the final frame. Rising to the occasion, Dopler earned his third strikeout of the game and followed it up with a ground out to Cody Milks, making his first career start.

WMU closes out the regular season on Tuesday with New London. Highland has three more games before the postseason, the first of which is tonight against Hillcrest Academy.