WMU vs. Miami Game Stats - Game 1
WMU vs. Miami Game Stats - Game 2
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Western Michigan softball dropped its home doubleheader against Miami on Friday afternoon, falling 3-1 in the opener and 4-0 in the nightcap. Senior Meghan Thomas launched her third home run of the season to account for the Broncos' lone run of the afternoon.
Thomas' solo shot in the bottom of the fourth inning kept drifting back toward the left field wall and before she knew it, Miami's Alicia Hogl had run out of real estate as the blast tied the game at one run apiece. Miami quickly grabbed the lead back with two runs in the top of the fifth, scoring on Hogl's double to center field.
Miami had taken an early 1-0 lead in the top of the third when second baseman Meghan Mawn singled through the left side to score Ashley Zappia from third base.
WMU put together five hits with Meredith Whitney, who took the loss in the circle in the first game, collected a pair, going 2-for-3 offensively. She hit her eighth double of the season, which leads the team. Sarah Thomas and Courtney Rousseau also accounted for Bronco base hits. With seven strikeouts, Whitney became the fifth Bronco in program history to record at least 300 in a career.
The Broncos had a golden opportunity to put pressure on the RedHawks early in the second game, loading the bases with only one out. Sarah Thomas led off the game with a single up the middle. Jenn Tschetter reached on a fielder's choice, followed by Gracie Barstad's single to center. WMU loaded the bases on Meghan Thomas' base hit but both Whitney and Michelle Bendewald went down swinging to end the threat.
Western Michigan would register only one more hit, a double off the bat of Tschetter in the bottom of the third. Miami pitcher Jessica Simpson settled in after the bottom of the first, retiring the next 18 of 19 batters en route to the win.
The Broncos welcome Mid-American Conference West Division leaders Ball State to Fran Ebert Field for a two-game set on Saturday and Sunday. First pitch for the games is scheduled for 2 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.
