Box Score
MIDLAND, Mich. - Western Michigan advanced to the semifinals of the 2006 Mid-American Conference Softball Tournament, defeating (5) Eastern Michigan, 5-2, in a second round game at Currie Stadium on Thursday night. Katie Niemi came alive at night, going 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, two RBI and a run scored.
The Broncos (33-13) did their damage in the top of the second inning, scoring four runs on five hits. Connie Kolokithas hit a one-out double to right field to start things off. Becky Bartosz drove a 2-0 pitch to left field to bring in Kolokithas and give WMU a 1-0 lead. She advanced to second on the throw and later to third on a Mandi Sayres single back up the box. Niemi broke open the inning with a two-run double to the left center field wall, scoring Bartosz and Sayres and giving the Broncos a 3-0 edge.
Kristi Strange kept the inning going with a one-out double to left, plating Niemi. Strange also went 2-for-4 at the plate with her fourth home run of the year, coming in the seventh inning to put WMU up, 5-0, on 11 hits, and two RBI. She has a pair of doubles through two games of the tournament and 24 for the season, extending her new MAC record. Strange's home run in the seventh stopped Aimee Woodrum's 34-innings scoreless streak.
Krysten Shumaker delivered another gutsy complete game outing, throwing 116 pitches after hurling 111 in WMU's opening round victory over Ohio. She matched a career-best with 16 strike outs, eight looking. The sophomore struck out the side in order on three occasions.
Eastern Michigan (27-27) put two runs on the board when Lindsay Schmid hit her fifth home run of the year to straight away center field. Lauren Clark registered the Eagles first hit with a one-out single up the middle. She also made three dynamic diving catches from her shortstop position, gunning out Niemi who was on second base for a double play at one point in the game. EMU's first base runner came one innings earlier when Lindsay Ritz earned a base one balls with two outs in the frame.
WMU will now face the winner of the elimination game between (3) Bowling Green and (8) Ohio at 5 p.m. at Currie Stadium. Live Stats will be available for the game.
