Box Score
Overall Stats
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - A game that saw three home runs, including a grand slam was ultimately decided on a catcher's interference call in the bottom of the sixth to put Western Michigan on top, 9-8, on Sunday against Ball State. Tricia VanDerSlik and Kristi Strange each smash home runs as the Broncos came back from four runs down twice against the Cardinals at Fran Ebert Field.
Western Michigan (19-10, 7-1 MAC) quickly fell behind as Ball State (9-16, 3-5 MAC) plated a first-inning run. The Cardinals added another three runs in the top of the second. One base runner scored on a wild pitch and two more crossed the plate on a throwing error, taking a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the inning.
Connie Kolokithas continued her strong hitting this weekend, knocking a base hit into right field, scoring Corey Andrzejewski who was pinch running for designated player Lauren Fuller. Kolokithas again had a multi-hit day, going 2-for-4. The first comeback was completed in the bottom of the third inning. Amanda Heckaman started things with a two-out single to right field. Fuller, who finished the day 2-for-2 at the plate, followed with a single up the middle on the third pitch she saw. VanDerSlik battled in her at bat, working the count to 3-2 before stroking her first home run of the season, fifth of her career, over the left field wall, tying the score at four runs apiece.
Ball State answered in a huge way in its next offensive inning. Abby Gross launched her first home run of the season off the Ebert Field scoreboard with the bases juiced. Gross' grand slam put the Cardinals up 8-4 heading into the bottom of the fourth. It was the second home run Kyla Sullivan (6-1) has given up this spring. Despite the miscue, Sullivan pitched 4.0 innings in relief of VanDerSlik, giving up just two earned runs and one hit while fanning two batters to earn her sixth win of the year.
WMU worked its way back from four runs down again. The Broncos plated a single run in the fifth when Becky Bartosz drove in Heckaman, who had led off the inning with a walk, with a single to right field. The bulk of the work was done in the following offensive inning for the Brown & Gold. Danielle Daughtry led off the frame by reaching on a error by the shortstop. Strange stepped to the plate and Abby Zollman's (2-4) 1-2 offering was to the Canby, Ore., native's liking as she laced her second home run of the year off the scoreboard to pull WMU within one, 8-7.
Heckaman, also recording a pair of hits today with a 2-for-2 performance at the plate, singled to follow Strange and keep the rally going. Fuller followed with a walk. VanDerSlik successfully sacrifice bunted both runners over, setting the stage for Kolokithas to collect her second RBI on the day with a single up the middle. Mandi Sayres drew a base on balls to load the bases with Katie Niemi on deck. The first pitch was a swinging strike but Ball State's catcher, Gross, was called for catcher's interference, giving Niemi first base and scoring Samantha Vargocko, who was pinch running for Fuller.
Western Michigan ended the inning with three runners left on base for the third time today. The Broncos left a total of 11 base runners stranded in the win. Krysten Shumaker (3) stepped into the circle in the top of the seventh and sat the Cardinals down in order, getting Sarah McGregor to ground out to the shortstop, Kamilah Holle struck out looking and Katie Pilger went down swinging.
The Broncos next take the field on April 15 when Northern Illinois comes to Fran Ebert Field for two games on Saturday and Sunday, April 16.
