KALAMAZOO, Mich.- The Western Michigan softball team hosts Toledo in a three-game Mid-American Conference series this weekend, April 22-23. Western Michigan currently leads the MAC West Division with a 9-4 record in conference play.
THE RECORDS
Western Michigan (18-10, 9-4 MAC)
Toledo (10-31, 3-11 MAC)
Twitter Updates: @WMUSoftball
Live Stats - available at beginning of game
GAME SCHEDULE
Friday's game one at Fran Ebert Field is at 3 p.m., followed by a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday will be WMU's annual StrikeOut Cancer Day, as the Broncos partner with the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and the American Cancer Society in the fight against cancer.
STRIKEOUT CANCER
The StrikeOut Cancer initiative is a program through the National Fastpitch Coaches Association to help raise funds and awareness to fight cancer. The program leverages the personal experiences, community leadership, and professional excellence of fastpitch softball coaches nationwide to help increase cancer education and promote healthy living through awareness efforts an fundraising activities. Since starting the StrikeOut Cancer initiative more than 10 years ago, the NFCA has raised thousands of dollars to support the fight against cancer.
VIEW FROM THE TOP
Western Michigan moved ahead of Northern Illinois into first place in the MAC West standings last week after taking two games of a three-game series against the Huskies. WMU enters this weekend with a 9-4 MAC record while NIU is 9-5. Miami leads the MAC East and the conference overall with a 10-3 mark in league play. Western Michigan defeated the RedHawks in their only meeting this year, 3-1.
A LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE
Following this weekend there are two MAC series remaining. WMU travels to Ball State, April 29-30 and hosts Eastern Michigan in the final MAC weekend, May 6-7. Saturday, May 7 with be Senior Day. The top eight teams advance to the MAC Tournament, held at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio, May 11-13.
KUS AT HER BEST
Senior pitcher Allyson Kus has a 7-1 record over her last eight starts and has a 13-10 overall, 7-1 MAC record on the year. She leads the conference with a 1.40 ERA in league play. Kus has been named MAC Pitcher of the Week three times this season including the last two weeks in a row.
GOING, GOING, GONE
Western Michigan has 30 home runs as a team this season. Junior Erin Binkowski has 11, which has established a new WMU single-season home run record. Junior Abby Stoner has gone deep eight times, at one point homering in five straight games.
THE .300 CLUB
Three Broncos are batting over .300. Junior outfielder Erin Binkowski leads the team with a .343 average and a team-best 27 RBIs. Senior second baseman Melissa Palmer and junior third baseman Kelsea Cichocki are both batting .319. As a team, the Broncos are hitting .266. Four players are batting over .300 during conference play. Palmer is hitting a whopping .390 against league foes, followed by senior shortstop Sabrina Gamboa at .389.
SCOUTING TOLEDO
Toledo is 10-31 overall with a 3-11 MAC record. The Rockets are batting .221 and have a 6.01 team ERA. UT defeated Eastern Michigan twice (7-6, 9-0) and Miami (13-10) for the three conference victories.
