MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Western Michigan softball stumbled in its first Mid-American Conference road series, falling to Central Michigan, 2-1 and 7-6, on Friday at Margo Jonker Stadium.
Meredith Whitney and Kara Dornbos went back and forth in the opener but a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh was the difference as CMU took a win from the Broncos in the series opener, 2-1.
Whitney struck out seven batters, while allowing two runs on six hits. Despite the loss, her seventh of the year, she moved closer to Bonni Kinne's career strikeout record. Whitney fanned seven batters to give her 588 heading into her start on Saturday. She needs just six Ks to become the program's strikeout queen.
Western Michigan scored its lone run of the game on a Courtney Rousseau single to center field after Tara Buchanan led off the inning with her fifth double of the year. Bri Russell, pinch running for Buchanan, scored on Rousseau's base hit.
WMU's run was answered by Central Michigan in the home half of the fourth. Carolann Sexauer singled to center field to score Ashley Gilson who had reached on an error. Summer Knoop collected the deciding hit in the seventh, driving home Macy Merchant from second base who reached on a bunt single with one out.
Allie Carlson, Jennifer Tschetter and Emma Bogart also collected hits for WMU in the series opener. A pair of outfield assists by Jenny Rohn helped the Bronco defense, throwing out a runner at home in the first and then doubling up a runner in the third.
Offense was the theme of the second game of the series as the Broncos opened up a 5-0 lead through the first three innings. Buchanan belted her fourth home run of the season after Diana Patterson reached on a walk and Rousseau singled to left field in the opening inning.
Mackenzie Shepeck hit her first collegiate home run in the top of the third. Buchanan led the frame off with a walk and Shepeck followed with her shot over the left field wall.
CMU pulled to within two runs after its three-run fourth inning. Shepeck collected her third RBI of the game in the fifth, reaching on a fielder's choice to score Russell, pinch running for Patterson who led off the inning with a base hit up the middle.
Trailing 6-4, CMU tacked on a run in the home half of the fifth but took control in the bottom of the sixth, scoring three runs off Shepeck who was in the circle in relief.
WMU loaded the bases in the top of the seventh but pinch hitter Megan Stamm flew out to left field to end the game and give the series sweep to the Chippewas.
Western Michigan continues its road trip with a pair of games at Eastern Michigan, which split with Northern Illinois on Friday, on Saturday (2 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.)
