Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Mandi Sayres went 3-for-6 at the plate in Western Michigan's doubleheader split with Akron on Friday afternoon at Fran Ebert Field. The Broncos plated a run in the fourth inning of game one and held on for the victory but fell due to a second inning home run from the Zips in game two.
Western Michigan (17-18, 9-7 MAC) managed only two hits in the first of two games against Akron (15-20, 6-6 MAC) but those two hits, coupled with a pair of Akron errors, provided the Broncos with enough wriggle room to come out on top, 1-0.
WMU broke through in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out Kristi Strange wrapped her team-leading 11th double down the right field line to put a Bronco in scoring position with one out. After Amanda Heckaman popped out to the shortstop to put two outs on the board, Becky Bartosz reached base on a throwing error by Akron's shortstop, Kelsie Hanson.
Strange headed for third on contact and when the ball got away from the Zips' first baseman, she headed for home. She avoided the tag, sliding head first into home plate for the score. Bartosz was thrown out when she tried to advance to second base on the throw home.
Akron had its opportunities to even the score or take the lead. Carrese Moody led off the fourth with a single and later advanced to second base but was thrown out at third base when she attempted to steal third. The Zips recorded another hit to lead off the fifth frame and two more in the sixth.
The Zips had its leadoff, Katrina Moffett, batter reach on an error in the top of the seventh and she was sacrificed to second base by Jaclyn Spirtos. Akron added another baserunner when pinch hitter Amanda Cody earned a base on balls. The threat was ended when Deanna McCauley grounded out to third base. Jenna Stuppy fielded the grounder and Heckaman squeezed the throw for the game's final out.
Akron returned the favor off one swing of Julie Boyes' bat. The Zips' pitcher cranked her fifth home run of the season in the top of the second to give her team the 1-0 lead. Western Michigan scratched out four hits and had runners at second and third with two out in the bottom of the fifth but could not get a run across.
Amanda McBride snapped an eight-game hitless streak with a base knock to left center field with two out. Sayres recorded one of her two hits during the game, finishing the day 3-for-6 at the plate, advancing to second. McBride ended up at third to put two Broncos in scoring position with two out.
Western Michigan now turns its attention to Ohio (21-25, 8-8 MAC), which split a doubleheader at Northern Illinois on Friday. It will mark the final two games of the home schedule for the Broncos. Game times are 2 p.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
