KALAMAZOO, Mich.- The Western Michigan softball team dropped its home opener to Ohio in game one of this weekend's series between the Broncos and Bobcats, 9-1, Friday.

Ohio took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Broncos pulled even in the bottom half of the inning. Senior Ivy Schaaf led off the WMU at bat with her eighth double of the season. With two outs, senior Marlee Wilson drilled an RBI single up the middle.

The game remained tied 1-1 over the next two innings. Bronco sophomore pitcher Jordan Kurth struck out the side swinging in the second and went on to retire six batters in a row, also sitting down the Bobcats in order in the third.

Ohio slowly began to tack on runs, scoring one in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to pull ahead, 4-1. The Bobcats put the game away with five runs in the seventh. Mikayla Cooper delivered the big blow, driving a three-run home run out of the fence in right center.

After tallying three hits in the first inning, Western Michigan was held to just two more hits in the game. Courtney Sleeman singled to left in the second and Kelsea Chicocki had a base hit to center field in the third.

Ohio's Danielle Stiene improved to 8-2 in the pitcher's circle and as a team, the Bobcats improved to 23-6 overall and 4-0 in Mid-American Conference play. Stiene struck out seven and walked one.

Kurth (6-11) started off the day strong, but was eventually lifted after Cooper's home run with one away in the sixth. Kurth was touched for seven runs (six earned) and nine hits over 6.1 innings. She struck out six and walked four.

Western Michigan (12-16, 0-4 MAC) and Ohio take the field tomorrow in a doubleheader, beginning at 1 p.m. to close out the weekend series.