Box Score
Overall Stats
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Western Michigan and Kent State battled in an eight-inning pitchers duel as both hurlers worked complete games. In the end the Golden Flashes came out on top, 2-1, sending a home run over the center field wall to score the decisive run.
Krysten Shumaker (12-4) and Brittney Robinson (19-10) were everything that has been advertised as the two pitchers competed through eight innings on Saturday at Fran Ebert Field. Shumaker allowed just five hits while striking out nine batters to move into third place on the single-season all-time list at Western Michigan (23-11, 11-2 MAC) with 153 punch outs this year. Robinson fanned 13 and allowed just a pair of Bronco hits, and just four base runners, during her time in the circle for KSU (21-20, 9-5 MAC).
The loss is just the second for WMU in conference action and snapped an eight-game winning streak and a 10-game Mid-American Conference winning streak as well.
Amanda Heckaman put the Broncos on the board early, driving her fifth double of the season to left center field. The hit scored Danielle Daughtry, who had reached on a walk two batters prior.
The Golden Flashes answered WMU's first inning run with one of their own in the top of the second. Ashley Ball reached base after being hit by a pitch on a 2-2 count. Ashley Fairhurst drew a walk and two batters later Corey Houk singled to center field to score Ball and tie the score.
The scoreboard would not change until the top of the eighth inning when Jessica Toocheck sent a home run over the center field wall with one out in the inning.
Robinson held the Western Michigan bats in check as Daughtry would be the only other Bronco to register a hit, ripping a single down the left field line in the bottom of the sixth. Once on base, Daughtry swiped her third stolen base of the season with two outs and Heckaman at the plate. She would be stranded and the Broncos went down in order in the seventh and eighth innings to end the game.
Kent State's Whitney Lebowitz was the only player on either team to register two hits, going 2-for-4 at the plate.
WMU will finish its two-game series with Kent State on Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch from Fran Ebert Field. The Broncos then take a one-game break from conference play to travel to East Lansing, Mich., to take on Michigan State at 4 p.m. on April 25.
