Box Score
MIDLAND, Mich. - A pitchers duel in the truest sense of the word, Western Michigan outlasted eighth-seeded Ohio, 1-0, in eight innings to move on the second round of the 2006 Mid-American Conference Softball Tournament. Kristi Strange drove in the winning run with her 22nd double of the year, a new single-season MAC record.
Seven and a half innings had been completed and seven base runners had been stranded by both teams throughout the game. That all changed when Mandi Sayres her third hit of the game to lead off the Broncos' half of the eighth. She was the only batter to record more than one hit on the day and finished the game a perfect 3-for-3.
Katie Niemi followed with a slap single to shortstop to give WMU (32-13) runners on first and second and no one out. Danielle Daughtry worked the count full before going down on strikes, setting the table for Strange. She had hit the ball well in her previous at bats, slicing a ball into right field that was caught in foul territory in her last trip to the plate. On a 1-2 pitch from Michelle Sauter (12-17), she laced a shot to the left center field gap to score Sayres and win the game. The record-breaking double surpassed Margo Ruther, of Ohio, who hit 21 doubles in 1995.
Krysten Shumaker (17-5), despite the long wait on Thursday, brought her best stuff to the circle, allowing just one hit and striking out 11 batters. She sat down the side in order in the first five innings and again in the seventh. The Bobcats (26-39) broke through with their only hit in the sixth inning when Cathy Walters pinch hit to lead off the inning and squirted a single up the middle.
Ohio's only other base runner came in the top of the eighth. Shannon Weidner led off with a four-pitch walk. Emily Futscher sacrificed her to second with a bunt. Alicia Catlette struck out swinging on three straight pitches for the second out. The Bobcats stranded the runner on second when Amanda Sacks struck out looking to end the inning and the threat.
Becky Bartosz was the first base runner of game for either team, drawing a walk in the third frame. Sayres followed with a bunt single to third base, also the game's first.
The Broncos had their chances to score runs in regulation but could not bring any across home plate. Tricia VanDerSlik perfectly placed a double into left field to give WMU a runner in scoring position with just one out in the fifth, but she was stranded on second when Connie Kolokithas struck out and Bartosz grounded out to third. In the sixth, Sayres led off with her second hit of the game, a single through the left side. Niemi sacrificed her to second with a bunt back to the circle. Daughtry followed with a pop out to second base and Strange flied out to right field to end the inning and strand the runner.
Finally in the seventh, Amanda Heckaman singled down the left field line to lead off the inning. She was pinch ran for by Corey Andrzejewski. Melissa Brink pinch-hit for Lauren Fuller and successfully sacrificed Andrzejewski to second, who later advanced to third with one out on a wild pitch. VanDerSlik grounded out to short for the second out of the inning. Gelder pinch-hit for Kolokithas, drew a walk and Kolokithas re-entered to run at first. Bartosz struck out looking with runners on the corners to end the inning and take it into extra frames.
Western Michigan will now face (5) Eastern Michigan at Currie Stadium at 9 p.m. The Eagles upset fourth-seeded Central Michigan, 4-0, in the first game of the day. The second round is finally set with (2) Kent State taking on (3) Bowling Green at 6:30 p.m. and (6) Akron will take on (7) Northern Illinois at 5 p.m. Two fields have been opened up in order keep the tournament on schedule for Friday. The Bobcats will now face the Chippewas at 7:30 p.m. in the consolation bracket on the secondary field.
