Box Score KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Senior pitcher
Allyson Kus allowed just three hits, throwing a complete-game shutout to lead Western Michigan softball to a 6-0 win over rival Central Michigan at Fran Ebert Field.
Kus, the reigning Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Week, is 5-0 over her last five starts with a 1.17 ERA. With the win Wednesday, she improved her overall record to 11-9 on the year. It was her second shutout of the season and 13th complete game.
The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth when junior
Abby Stoner jump-started the Bronco offense with a two-out, two-run home run.
Melissa Palmer was hit by a pitch in the leadoff at bat and with two away, Stoner crushed a 3-1 delivery over the fence in left field for her sixth home run of the season. Stoner also went deep yesterday with a two-run shot against Detroit.
WMU had just two hits through the first four innings, both of which were by Stoner. She also slid in under a tag for a double in the second inning. She finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate.
The Broncos added to their 2-0 lead with two more runs in the fifth and sixth. Western Michigan had four of its seven hits of the game in the fifth. Palmer hit an RBI double to center field and shortstop
Sabrina Gamboa followed with an RBI single to right field.
Aspen Williams and
Kelsea Cichocki also singled in the inning.
The Broncos made use of an early CMU throwing error in the sixth, plating two unearned runs. Williams drove in a run with a fielder's choice and
Ivy Schaaf roped a ball to right field for an RBI single.
Central Michigan stranded five runners in the game, all in scoring position, as Kus calmly worked her way out of multiple threats. The Chippewas had runners at second and third with one out in the second and also had a runner at third with one out in the third. Kus put an exclamation on the win, sitting the Chips down in order in the seventh and recorded a swinging strikeout for the final out.
Western Michigan (16-18 overall) improved its MAC record to 7-3. The Broncos are tied with Northern Illinois for first place in the MAC West and are a half-game behind Miami (7-2) as the conference leader. WMU defeated Miami in the teams' only meeting this year, 3-1.
WMU heads to Northern Illinois this weekend for a three-game series, April 15-16. Game one Friday is at 4 p.m. ET, with a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. ET.
