Box Score
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Western Michigan had its offense sparked early from a solo home run off the bat of senior Amanda Heckaman but Eastern Michigan answered with three-straight multi-run innings to take Sunday's game, 9-2, and sweep the season series from the Broncos.
Heckaman's 10th-career home run, first of the season, came on a 1-1 pitch with one out and the bases empty. The shot went over the wall in straight-away center field and gave WMU (9-9, 1-3 MAC) the early one-run lead. Heckaman currently ranks second on the career home run list behind Erin Malloch, who had 12 in her career (2000-03).
EMU (10-15, 3-1 MAC) went down in order in the third and Western Michigan led off its half of the third with an Amanda McBride double but could not bring her across home plate as she was stranded at third base. McBride led the Broncos offense during this conference-opening weekend, hitting .300.
The Eagles took control in the middle innings as they did on Saturday. EMU scored three runs in the fourth inning on three hits and one WMU error. Eastern Michigan jumped out to a 7-1 lead after the fifth inning with four runs on three hits and a Bronco error. The Eagles add two more runs in the top of the sixth when Lindsay Schmid doubled to left center field.
Western Michigan did not go down without a fight. Freshman Sarah Thomas entered the game defensively in the top of the fifth and made her offensive impact in the bottom of the sixth. Becky Bartosz was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame. Nina Ojala pinch ran and advanced to second base on a ground out by Kristi Strange. Thomas ripped a 1-1 pitch to left field for her first career double, scoring Ojala.
Megan Thomas suffered just her second loss of the season, throwing 92 pitches and 58 for strikes in 4.2 innings of work. Michelle Lloyd earned her fourth win of the season for Eastern Michigan, working 5.2 innings and throwing 62 of 101 pitches for strikes.
WMU will travel to Ann Arbor, Mich., on April 3 for a doubleheader with Michigan, which ranks #10 in the most recent USA Today/NFCA Poll. The Broncos return to their Mid-American Conference schedule on April 6-8 when they travel to Ball State for a twin bill on Friday and then on to Miami for single games on Saturday and Sunday.
