BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - WMU softball suffers a pair of losses on day two of the Holiday Inn Hilltopper Classic, falling to Pitt, 4-3, and to the host Hilltoppers, 5-2, in the nightcap.
The Broncos opened the day against Big East opponent Pitt. The two programs had met only twice before with each winning one meeting. WMU emerged victorious in the last meeting, 7-3, on March 5, 2003.
The Panthers opened the scoring in the top of the first with a two-out home run to left center field. WMU evened the score in the home half of the third. Emma Bogart led off the frame with her fourth career double down the left field line. Sabrina Gamboa drove in her team best fourth RBI of the season with a single to left field.
Pitt reclaimed the lead for good on an infield single in the fifth and plated two more in the sixth. The first came on the Panthers' second home run of the game followed by a single to right center and an RBI double to left center to take a 4-1 lead.
The Broncos mounted their comeback in the sixth. Gamboa drew a one-out walk and two batters later Diana Patterson registered her first double of the season to bring WMU within two runs, 4-2.
Mackenzie Shepeck worked 6.0 innings in the loss, allowing all four runs but striking out a career-high eight batters in the process.
Colleen Lynch sat down Pitt in order in the top of the seventh, giving Western Michigan a chance in its last at bat. Loren Nagy led off the inning with a single up the middle. Bogart followed with her second hit of the game. Pinch running for Nagy, Megan Stamm advanced to third on Bogart's base hit and scored on Gamboa's sac fly.
The run-producing fly out brought the Broncos within one tally of tying the game, but left WMU just one out with which to work. Shepeck was sent to the plate as a pinch hitter but the rally came up short with a game-ending strikeout.
In the nightcap WMU took a one-run lead into the fifth inning but it would be the only half inning that Broncos led as WKU scored two in the fifth and added two more in the seventh to secure the win.
After giving up an opening run on three straight hits in the second inning, including a lead off triple, the Broncos took their advantage in the fourth. Patterson led off with a base hit to left field and Marleen Rodriguez doubled down the right field line. After Shepeck struck out swinging Nagy belted a double to straight away center field to clear the bases. Nagy is leading WMU offensively, hitting .444 (4-for-9) with a pair of doubles so far this weekend.
It would be the only runs the Broncos would manage in the loss as WMU went down in order in both the fifth and sixth innings. WKU earned a bases loaded walk and scored again on an infield single to extend its lead in the top of the seventh. WMU came to bat in the home half of the inning but was only able to scratch out a double to left center of Nagy's bat, stranding her at third base.
Western Michigan will close out the 2013 Holiday Inn Hilltopper Classic against South Dakota State at 9:30 a.m. CT followed by Valparaiso at 12 p.m. CT. It will be the first ever meeting between the Broncos and Jackrabbits, while WMU holds a 17-4 advantage in the all-time series against Valpo.
