Box Score
BUFFALO, N.Y. - For the second game in a row, Western Michigan softball had its offense operating at over 100 percent, taking it to Buffalo, 9-2, at Nan Harvey Stadium on April 22. The Broncos used a pair of multi-run innings to take the season series, including five runs in the second frame highlighted by a Molly Mroczek grand slam.
Mroczek, who came into the game with two home runs already, made an already difficult inning for the Bulls (3-37, 1-11 MAC) even more difficult. The frame began with Jenna Stuppy and Kyla Sullivan getting hit by a pitch sandwiched around a base on balls by Lauren Fuller to load the bases. Amanda McBride also drew a walk to score Stuppy and keep the sacks full.
Mroczek sent a pitch over the wall for the grand slam, her third home run of the season and fourth of her career. The five runs in the second inning, added to the tally in the first inning gave the Broncos (16-17, 8-6 MAC) a 6-0 lead after an inning and a half.
WMU's first run was scored when Kristi Strange, who had reached on a fielder's choice, crossed home plate on a Buffalo error that allowed Amanda Heckaman to reach base and record the first of her two RBI on the day.
UB answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning to make the score 6-2 in favor of Western Michigan but the Broncos answered with a run in the fifth and two more in the top of the sixth to give them a 9-2 lead that would stand.
Heckaman doubled down the left field line with one out to kick start the fifth inning for WMU. Nina Ojala pinch ran for her senior teammate and later scored on a Samantha Vargocko base hit to center field.
Strange registered her lone RBI of the game in the sixth when she singeld to score Mroczek with one out. Mandi Sayres, who registered a base knock to left field earlier in the inning, scored the Broncos' final run of the game when Heckaman grounded out to the shortstop for the inning's second out.
Sullivan pushed her pitching record over the .500 mark with the victory (11-10). She worked six innings, allowing just five hits and two earned runs, while striking out 11 Buffalo batters. Brittney Reist came into the circle in the seventh inning. She forced three ground outs for the perfect inning and her first save of the season.
Western Michigan returns to Kalamazoo for its final home stand of the 2007 campaign on April 27-29. The Broncos will face Akron in a doubleheader on Friday, beginning at 1 p.m. Ohio then comes to Fran Ebert Field for a two-game set on April 28-29 with games starting at 2 p.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
