BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Western Michigan softball picked up the first win of the 2013 Holiday Inn Hilltopper Classic with a dramatic 7-6 win over Dayton to keep the Flyers winless on the season.
The key to WMU's victory was an offensive onslaught in the fourth inning, and it was thanks in large part to the Bronco freshmen in the line up. Marleen Rodriguez and Melissa Palmer continued their hot hitting, leading off the fourth inning with a single and a double, respectively. Palmers' two-bagger was one of four doubles, all hit by freshmen, against the Flyers. That set the stage for Sabrina Gamboa who drove a base hit up the middle to clear the bases and double WMU's lead from 2-0 to 4-0.
Mackenzie Shepeck drew a walk to keep things going and two batters later Caity Pixley, who was 3-for-3 at the plate, drove in one of her two runs with a single to right field. Loren Nagy followed with an almost identical single to left field to plate another run, and Allyson Kus, earning the start in the circle and picking up her first career win, helped out her own cause with an RBI double to left center.
Freshmen accounted for six of Western Michigan's seven RBIs against Dayton and went 9-for-18 (.500) at the plate.
Diana Patterson made her season debut in fine fashion, registering her team best 35th career RBI in her first at bat to put the Broncos on the board in the bottom of the first.
The Broncos built a 7-0 lead through four innings and had a chance to end the game early but stranded eight base runners throughout the first five innings.
Dayton mounted its come back in the top of the sixth as a pair of batters scored on a passed ball and wild pitch, respectively. In fact, only two Flyers that ultimately scored reached base due to a hit, the rest were due to walks on being hit by pitches.
In the top of the seventh, Kus was chased after two batters, giving up a lead off walk and a two-run home run. It would be the only hit of the inning but two more base runners would cross home plate. Becca Shemberger came into the circle in relief and, with the bases loaded, walked in a run on two occasions. However, with the bases loaded and WMU clinging to a one-run lead, Shemberger shut down the Flyers, fanning the batter on four pitches to earn her first career save.
WMU continues in the Hilltopper Classic but not until Saturday as poor weather Thursday night will allow for each team to play only one game on Friday. Check back to www.wmubroncos.com/softball and go to the schedule page for an updated schedule. Also follow @WMUSoftball on Twitter for up to the minute updates on the schedule.
