YPSILANTI, Mich.- The Western Michigan softball team used a late seventh inning comeback to claim the first game of this weekend's series between the Broncos and Eagles, 3-2, Friday.

Eastern Michigan took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Broncos pulled even in the bottom of the second inning. Junior Aspen Williams led off WMU at bat with a double to left field. With two outs, sophomore Erin Barg drilled an RBI to left field.  

The Eagles regained the lead in the bottom of the third after a home run. The game remained 2-1 over the next two innings. After allowing the home run in the third, Bronco relief pitcher Holly VanTilburg struck out four EMU batters to keep Eastern Michigan off the board.

Senior third baseman Kelsea Cichocki would even the score in the top of the sixth for the Broncos with a home run to right field. The round-tripper was her seventh this season. VanTilburg would sit down the Eagles in order in the bottom of the sixth.

In the top of the seventh, Williams led the Broncos off with her second double of the day to center field. Catcher Courtney Sleeman would lay down a sac bunt advancing Williams to third. With two outs, senior Ivy Schaaf drove the game-winning RBI up the middle and extended her hitting streak to seven games.

VanTilburg (4-3) sealed the victory at the mound for the Broncos as the junior transfer retired the final three outs. The relief pitcher allowed one earned run and four hits over 5.1 innings. She struck out five batters and walked one.

Williams went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and two runs, Cichocki went 1-for-2 with a home run, one RBI, one run and a walk while Schaaf went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Western Michigan (17-24, 5-13 MAC) and Eastern Michigan (15-26, 3-13 MAC) take the field tomorrow in a doubleheader, beginning at 1 p.m. to close out the weekend series.