Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Western Michigan's losing skid expanded to five games when the Broncos fell to #10 Michigan, 5-2, in game one and, 7-0, in game two at Alumni Field in Ann Arbor, Mich. Becky Bartosz accounted for all of WMU's offensive production with her third home run of the season in the first half of today's twin bill.
WMU (9-11) needed 25 official at bats to collect its first hit of game one against the 10th-ranked Wolverines (28-6) but it came at an opportune time. Lauren Fuller pinch hit for for senior Jenna Stuppy with two outs in the top of the seventh and Michigan leading, 1-0. The Wolverines had scored its lone run to that point on a one-out double to left center field.
Fuller singled to extend the Broncos half of the seventh and Nina Ojala pinch ran for the sophomore. One batter later, Bartosz sent a Lorilyn Wilson pitch over the wall to plate a pair of runs and, just like that, give WMU a one-run lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.
Michigan's Angie Danis led off the frame with a walk and then Molly Bausher popped up for the inning's first out. Another walk and a batter reached on an error to load the bases. Samantha Findlay struck out for the second out of the inning but Western Michigan could not get out of the inning unscathed as Findlay's younger sister, Angela, registered a grand slam to end the game.
Despite suffering the loss, Kyla Sullivan pitched very well in the circle for WMU, going all the way and striking out five batters, while allowing just one earned run.
The Wolverines opened up their offense early in game two, scoring one run on two hits in the second and then breaking out for five runs on four hits and one Bronco error to go up, 6-0. Michigan added another run in its next at bat for the winning margin.
Sarah Thomas led off the game with a single up the middle but Western Michigan would not record another hit until Mandi Sayres recorded a base hit up the middle with two outs in the top of the sixth.
The Broncos remain on the road this weekend when they travel to Muncie, Ind. for a doubleheader against Ball State on April 6, beginning at 1 p.m. WMU then heads to Oxford, Ohio for a two-game set against Miami on April 7 (2p.m.) and April 8 (1 p.m.).
