AKRON, Ohio - Western Michigan softball will look to repeat as MAC Tournament champions for the first time in program history when the Broncos take the field Wednesday at 11 a.m. against Toledo.
SERIES INFORMATION
(5) Western Michigan Broncos (25-23, 11-9 MAC)
vs. (8) Toledo Rockets (18-36, 8-14 MAC)
May 9 • 11 a.m.
Akron, Ohio • Firestone Stadium
LIVE STATS
LIVE CHAT - See Below
LAST GAME RECAP
Western Michigan swept Northern Illinois with a 5-3 and a 4-2 win during the last weekend of the regular season to secure the No. 5 seed in this year's Mid-American Conference Tournament. Over the weekend, Meredith Whitney became the third pitcher in program history with 200 or more strikeouts in a season. Mackenzie Shepeck worked five perfect innings in the season finale to secure WMU's 25th win. She also hit a go-ahead home run in the fourth inning.
WMU SOFTBALL NEWS & NOTES
Western Michigan closed out the 2012 season with a sweep of Northern Illinois ... Meredith Whitney is four strikeouts from joining the MAC's career 700 strikeout club ... Whitney became only the third pitcher in program history to reach 200 Ks in a season ... WMU had four MAC West Pitcher of the Week selections in 2012 with Whitney earning the award three times and Becca Shemberger earning the honor once ... Tara Buchanan and Courtney Rousseau ended the regular season sharing the team lead for doubles (9) ... Gracie Barstad and Buchanan enter the MAC Tournament as the only Broncos hitting over .300 on the season, .317 and .313, respectively ... Buchanan, Rousseau, Christina Pigozzi, Whitney and Tschetter have started all 48 of WMU's games in 2012 ... WMU ranks 10th in the nation in fielding percentage (.976) ... Whitney ranks 55th in the nation in strikeouts per game (7.7).
WMU in the MAC TOURNAMENT under KATHY LEITKE
Western Michigan has played in the MAC Tournament title game four times under Leitke, winning it all in 2003 and 2011. Last season, WMU won the regular season and tournament titles in the same year for the first time in program history.
If WMU defeats Toledo, (4) Ohio would be the next opponent for the Broncos at 5 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon. That game will be LIVE STREAMED via the MAC Digital Network. If WMU suffers a tournament-opening loss, the Broncos would face either (3) Bowling Green, (6) Central Michigan or (7) Kent State at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday.
2012 WMU vs. TOURNAMENT OPPONENTS
(1) Ball State 0-0
(3) Bowling Green 0-2
(6) Central Michigan 0-2
(7) Kent State 0-2
(2) Miami 2-0
(4) Ohio 1-1
(8) Toledo 1-1
WMU vs. TOLEDO - MAC TOURNAMENT LIVE CHAT
