CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Western Michigan softball team concluded its 12-game Florida trip with a 3-1 victory over Rider University on Sunday morning. With the win, the Broncos head back to Kalamazoo riding an eight-game winning streak after going 8-4 in the Sunshine State and are now 13-10 overall.
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Five different Broncos connected on the ball this morning including
Mackenzie Swinehart,
Marlee Wilson,
Skyler Sobeski,
Erin Barg and
Brooke Wyman, who extended her hitting streak to four games as the streak is also the longest active streak on the team.
Sophomore
Kaylen Glenfield saw her seven-game hitting streak snapped against the Broncs going 0-for-4 but still leads all players with a batting average of .397 this season.
Western Michigan took an early 2-0 lead in the first half of inning number one as senior
Aspen Williams recorded a sac fly bringing home Wyman. Wilson grabbed an RBI driving home
Samantha Coffel with a two-out single.
Swinehart got the Bronco offense started again in the second, reaching first off a bunt with two outs. Wyman singled to right center but WMU left the runners stranded on the corners.
The Brown & Gold garnered another run in the third as Sobeski drove home Wilson as the junior singled to left and Wilson scored off a fielding error from the Broncs centerfielder.
After pitching 4.1 innings, starting pitcher
Reily Galloway allowed a triple and a single as Rider eventually broke through the freshman and pulled within one in the bottom of the fourth inning. For the day, Galloway delivered a career-high eight strikeouts with just two walks to earn her second win of the season and improve to 2-0.
Senior
Holly VanTilburg came on in relief and pitched the final 2.2 innings for the Broncos, giving up three hits and striking out a total of three batters including the final out of the game with runners in scoring position.
The Broncos return home to host Fort Wayne on Wednesday, March 14 for their home opener as the doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. against the Mastodons.
