CLEARWATER, Fla.- The Western Michigan softball team defeated Central Connecticut State 6-2 and Canisius 4-3 to sweep a pair of games Friday. The Broncos improved their overall record to 6-10 on the season and have now won three in a row and four of their last five games.
Western Michigan closes out its Florida trip splitting a doubleheader against Green Bay and Towson tomorrow before playing a final contest against Purdue on Sunday.
Sophomore pitcher Erin Binkowski (3-5) picked up the win in a complete game effort in game one and freshman Haley Thibeault (2-0) earned the win in two innings of relief in game two. Binkowski hit her first career home run as well in game one.
Junior second baseman Melissa Palmer batted 4-for-7 on the day with three RBIs and stole home for the winning run in the 4-3 victory over Canisius.
WMU 6, CCSU 2
Binkowski was dominate early in game one, only allowing one hit and holding Central Connecticut State scoreless for the first five innings.
The Broncos jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a run in the first and two more in the second, making use of two costly errors as all three runs were unearned. Palmer had an RBI single in each inning and sophomore left fielder Ivy Schaaf drove in the other run in the second with a base hit.
The Blue Devils finally got some offense going in the sixth, touching Binkowski for four hits and using a Bronco fielding error to score two runs.
WMU fired back with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to stretch a one-run lead to a 6-2 Bronco advantage. Binkowski helped her own cause, blasting a two-run shot to left field for her first career home run. Junior shortstop Sabrina Gamboa doubled in the next at bat and went on to score on an infield error.
Binkowski registered her third win of the season, throwing a complete seven innings, scattering six hits and striking out four. The Broncos had eight hits in the game, including a 3-for-4 performance by senior center fielder Jenny Rohn. Palmer finished 2-for-4 with the two RBIs.
WMU 4, Canisius 3
Western Michigan won a late-inning thriller over Canisius in the second game of the day, scoring the winning run when Palmer stole home with two outs in the sixth.
The Broncos again got out to a 3-0 lead with a run in the first and two more in the second. Canisius fought back to tie the score with two runs in the fourth and another in the fifth.
Palmer continued her hot streak, driving in the first Bronco run with a single to center in the first, plating Schaaf who reached with a leadoff single.
In the lineup as the designated hitter, Binkowski led off the second with a single and scored when Gamboa smacked her second double of the day. Gamboa later came across the dish on a sac fly by Taylor Sanicki.
Both Canisius runs in the fourth were unearned as the first two batters reached on errors and Robin Kennery drove in the pair with a triple to right center. The Golden Griffins tied the game in the fifth after the leadoff batter reached on a single and went around to score.
Palmer led off the bottom of the sixth with a single and advanced to second on a groundout. A walk, followed by a fielder's choice by Caity Pixley gave WMU runners at the corners with two outs. Pinch runner Katelynn Devers took off from first to steal second and as throw was made to second, Palmer pulled off the delayed steal for the eventual winning run.
Junior pitcher Allyson Kus started the game and went five innings in a no decision. She allowed only three hits and two of the three runs against her were unearned.
Thibeault started the contest at first and was summoned to the pitcher's circle to close out the game, holding the Griffins scoreless over the final two frames. Canisius picked up a pair of singles off Thibeault in the top of the seventh and had runners at first and third with one out. Thibeault maintained her composure however and retired the final two batters with an infield pop fly and a strikeout. It was her second win (2-0) of the season.
