Box Score
Overall Stats
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Amanda Heckaman had a day of days in Western Michigan's 8-2 over Northern Illinois on Easter Sunday at Fran Ebert Field. The junior registered a single-game record seven RBI and scored a run in the sixth inning for the Broncos. Kyla Sullivan (7-1) picked up her seventh victory in her seventh start and 13 appearance of the season.
Heckaman scored the Brown & Gold's first two runs on a first-inning single to left field. Katie Niemi reached on a fielding error by the shortstop to lead off the inning for WMU (21-10, 9-1 MAC). Danielle Daughtry followed with a bunt single that momentarily froze Northern Illinois' (15-18, 3-7 MAC) third baseman. Kristi Strange sacrificed the runners to second and third with Heckaman on deck. She drove an 0-1 pitch, plating the first two runs of the day.
In the third inning Mandi Sayres, who made great plays at shortstop throughout the game, and Niemi drew walks. A coupld of ground outs by Daughtry and Strange advanced the runners with Heckaman again coming to the plate. The South Bend, Ind., native worked the count full before sending a shot to the left-center gap, clearing the bases and giving the Broncos a 4-0 lead.
After a scoreless fourth, the Huskies scored their first run of the two-game set. Elyse Jamrozy doubled to lead off the inning. She was followed by Kelly Park, who singled to advance Jamrozy to third. Krista McPherson reached on a fielder's choice but the Bronco defense could not retire Jamrozy as she scored from third. NIU's first hit of the weekend came in the third inning when Park singled through third base with a rocket that got by Daughtry.
Western Michigan answered in its offensive half of the fifth. This time Heckaman scored the run when Tricia VanDerSlik popped the ball straight up between the circle and first base. No Huskie defender could get to the ball in time as VanDerSlik reached safely. Heckaman alertly rounded third and headed for home. NIU's Michelle Nendza hurried her throw to the plate and was wide of her target, allowing Heckaman to score and VanDerSlik to advance to second.
Northern Illinois threatened in the top of the sixth inning. The first two batters reached on successive fielding errors. Ashley Clement reached on a fielder's choice giveing the Huskies runners on first and second with one out. Another fielder's choice put runners on the corners with two outs. Jamrozy swung on a 2-1 pitch from Sullivan, sending it to left field. Strange squeezed it in her glove to end the threat.
WMU flexed its offensive muscle in the bottom half of the inning, scoring three more runs off the bat of Heckaman. Amanda Gelder pinch hit for Sayres and doubled to right field. Niemi followed with a double to right field of her own. Lindsey LaChiana replaced Taryn Hagemann, who had relieved starter Paige Granath (3-3), with two outs. With Samantha Vargocko, pinch running for Gelder, on third and Niemi on second, Heckaman stood in. The powered the first pitch she saw from LaChiana over the left field wall to give the Broncos a 8-1 lead.
For the week Heckaman hit .667 (4-for-6), recorded nine RBI and had two home runs. She has left Fran Ebert Field in three out the last four games and leads the team with five round-trippers. She also scored three runs this week, has 11 total bases, a .714 on-base percentage and a ridiculous 1.833 slugging percentage.
Western Michigan is off until April 21 when the Broncos host Buffalo in a twin bill beginning at 1 p.m. After the Bulls, Kent State comes to town for a two-game series on April 22-23.
