TAMPA, Fla. - Western Michigan defeats Temple, 4-0, and Green Bay, 9-0, to remain undefeated at the USF Under Armour Showcase Tournament without allowing a run through four games.
Meredith Whitney continued her dominance in the circle over the past month, earning her sixth win of the season, fifth straight, and 49th of her career. The victory moved her into third in career wins at WMU.
Whitney registered her 15th career shutout with a four-hit, three-strikeout performance. Her 560.1 career innings pitched now also rank fifth in program history. She has not allowed more than one earned run in a game since Feb. 12.
"Meredith has been a driving force for us in the circle and with her bat," commented head coach Kathy Leitke. "With four shutouts, what more can you ask for from the pitching staff but our defense has also stepped up its game this weekend."
Offensively, the Broncos scored the only run they would need in the top of the first. Tara Buchanan's two-out double to right center field scored Diana Patterson who reached on a walk.
WMU added three more insurance runs in the top of the fifth. Courtney Rousseau led off the frame with an infield single and then stole second. Gracie recorded her third RBI of the tournament by reaching on an error. Colleen Lynch registered an RBI with a single to left field, scoring Barstad. Jennifer Tschetter capped the scoring with a base hit to right center. Pinch runner Jennifer Rohn crossed home plate to give the Broncos their winning margin of 4-0.
Temple had more than one base runner on at a time in the fifth but not again until the home half of the seventh when a one-out base hit and a two-out walk put a runner in scoring position for just the third time during the game. The inning, and game, ended with a line out back to Whitney.
The second game was much like the first, only quicker, as WMU defeated Green Bay, 9-0, in five innings. Becca Shemberger picked up her second straight complete-game, shutout victory, working four innings and allowing just three hits while fanning five.
"With the defense improving behind her, Becca's confidence continues to grow," added Leitke. "Our offense stranded some runners yesterday but did a much better job today and we will need that as Fordham presents a very tough obstacle tomorrow."
In game two Whitney did it with her bat, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored. She led off the game with a single and scored the game's first run.
Mackenzie Shepeck scored in the bottom of the second on a wild pitch and Whitney drove in the second run of the innning with an infield single back to the pitcher, plating Tschetter who reached on an error.
Western Michigan put the game away with six runs in the home half of the fourth. Whitney singled and advanced to second on the throw, driving in a pair of runs. Rousseau doubled to score Christina Pigozzi who reached on a bunt single. Pinch runner Bri Russell scored on a passed ball and Buchanan recorded her second RBI of the day on a single to center field.
Myranda McDonald drove in Lynch, pinch running for Buchanan on a ground out to third base to cap the scoring. Shemberger struck out the side in the bottom of the fifth to end the game and push WMU to 4-0 this weekend, having not allowed a run thus far.
WMU closes out the tournament at 9 a.m. against Fordham.
