Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2
Overall Stats
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Western Michigan used a pair of five-run innings to complete the sweep of visiting Miami on Friday. The Broncos took game one, 5-3, on the strength of five runs in the second inning. WMU came from behind in the nightcap, scoring five runs in the third and four more in the fourth to erase a three-run Redhawk lead and come away with an 11-5 victory at Fran Ebert Field.
Connie Kolokithas was the offensive spark Western Michigan (17-10, 5-1 MAC) needed in order to begin the comeback. The Chelsea, Mich., native belted her first career home run with two outs and two on in the bottom of the third to begin the five-run rally. Kristi Strange had singled to lead off the inning. Her base knock was followed by Amanda Heckaman's five pitch walk. Corey Andrzejewski pinch ran for Strange. After a fly out advanced the runners, Kolokithas stepped to the plate. She had already gone 1-for-3 with a run scored in the first game and had singled down the the line in her first at bat of the second contest. The senior took the 0-1 offering over the left field wall, knotting the score at three runs apiece. She ended her day with a 4-for-6 performance at the plate with two runs scored and five RBI. Kolokithas would later rip a single back up the middle, plating two more runs.
The Broncos jumped on Miami's (14-24, 1-5 MAC) Kelly Cabana (4-13), pitched every inning for Redhawks and three a total of 277 pitches in the two games, early in the first game. Kolokithas started the WMU second with a single and was followed by a Becky Bartosz walk. Mandy Sayres singled up the middle and two batters later, Danielle Daughtry drove in a pair of runs with a base hit. After Strange was intentionally walked, Heckaman singled to clear the bases. Kyla Sullivan capped the scoring barrage with a single to right field, plating Strange.
Miami mounted a comeback, scoring a single run in the sixth and two more in the seventh off Jamie Arundel's fourth home run of the season. The Redhawks had a runner on second and brought the tying run to the plate twice. Natalie Savona was one of 12 strike out victims for Krysten Shumaker (9-3) and Kristen Hays flied out to Kolokithas to end the game.
The Redhawks took a 3-0 lead early in the second game that was wiped out by WMU's five-run third inning. The Broncos added to their lead in the fourth, scoring four more. Strange led off the inning with a walk and Heckaman followed with a single. Nina Ojala, pinch hitting for Lauren Fuller, also drew a walk to load the bases. Kolokithas drove in two runs with a single. Sullivan (5-1), who pitched a complete game to earn the victory, then grounded out to the shortstop and scored Ojala. Kolokithas later scored on a wild pitch.
Miami plated two more runs to make the score 9-5 heading into the bottom of the sixth. Western Michigan added two insurance runs in the inning as Sayres singled to bring home a run and Katie Niemi recorded a sacrifice fly to drive in another. It was her third RBI of the game. Sayres joined Kolokithas with multiple hit games as she went 2-for-3 in the first game and 2-for-2 in the second.
WMU's sweep, coupled with a split by Eastern Michigan puts the Broncos alone atop the Mid-American Conference West Division standings. Bowling Green also split, matching the Brown & Gold for the best record in the MAC. Western Michigan welcomes Ball State (9-14, 3-3 MAC) to Fran Ebert Field this weekend for games on Saturday and Sunday, beginning at 2 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.
