BUFFALO, N.Y.- The Western Michigan softball team defeated Buffalo twice on Saturday, pulling off the doubleheader sweep against the Bulls. The Broncos won game one 2-0 and then took the second contest 2-1 in 11 innings.

Sophomore pitcher Jordan Kurth earned both of the victories in the circle, improving her record to 8-12 on the season. Kurth fired a complete-game shutout in game one, striking out six and only allowing five hits. In game two, Kurth relieved starting pitcher Anissa Sanchez in the seventh and went on to scatter three hits over 4.1 scoreless innings.

Redshirt junior first baseman Marlee Wilson provided the offensive pop in the lineup, finishing the day 4-for-8 at the plate with three doubles and the game-winning RBI in game one. Wilson also was pinch ran for in game two by Geordin Craun, who went on to score the game-winning run in the 11th.

WMU scored back-to-back runs in the fourth and fifth in game one. With one out, senior third baseman Kelsea Cichocki singled to left and advanced to second on a throwing error. Wilson drove in Cichocki with a double down the right field line. Freshman Mackenzie Swinehart hit her first career triple in the fifth and went on to score on an error by the catcher.

In game two, Cichocki reached on an error in the leadoff at bat in the fourth. Wilson doubled to second to put runners at second and third and junior Aspen Williams drove in Cichocki with a double to right field.

Buffalo used three singles to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth. Neither team threatened to score in the sixth or seventh, sending the game to extra innings. The Bulls threatened with a one-out triple in the 10th, but Kurth got out of the inning with a strikeout and a groundout.

Wilson led off the top of the 11th with a single for the Broncos. Craun came in to pinch run and scored after a fielder's choice and a Buffalo error. The Bulls got a leadoff double in the bottom of the 11th, but Kurth again worked her way out of a jam as WMU sealed the doubleheader sweep.

Western Michigan and Buffalo will take the field once again tomorrow to round out the series with game three at 1 p.m.
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