Box Score
AKRON, Ohio ? Seven innings were not enough to settle the opening game of the 2008 MAC Tournament between Western Michigan and Miami. In fact, neither eight, nor nine innings were enough as the Broncos captured a 4-2 win in 10 innings on Lexi Jager's fifth home run of the season at Firestone Stadium on Wednesday.
“She had been jamming me inside all day and when I connected, I knew I had hit it well. It was one of the hardest and most solid hits I have had in a long time,” said Jager after the game.
International softball rules state that a runner must be placed at second base if the game is not decided in nine innings or less. Michelle Bendewald (1-for-3) was that runner for WMU (20-16) in the top of the 10th inning.
Becky Bartosz (1-for-5) grounded out to advance the freshman to third and Amanda Gelder struck out to put two outs on the board. Jager (2-for-5) strode to the plate having already recorded an infield base hit in the Broncos' two-run fourth. This time, the ball left the infield. It left the outfield as well, soaring over the left field wall to give Western Michigan a 4-2 lead.
Miami (23-26), as it had in regulation, had its opportunity to tie the game or win in its last at bat. Kathryn Russette was placed on second and advanced to third base on a Kimberly Williams ground out to Amanda McBride at second base. Natalie Savona flied out to right field and Halle Popson followed with a second ground out to McBride to end the game.
WMU held a 2-0 lead from the fourth through most of the sixth inning before the Red Hawks scratched out a pair of runs to send the game into extra innings.
Gelder recorded a one-out walk and was pinch ran for by Chelsea Westenburg. She advanced to second on Jager's bunt single and then from third to home when Lauren Fuller reached on what was supposed to be a fielder's choice.
Jager advanced to third base on a passed ball by Miami's Savona and crossed the plate for WMU's second run of the game on McBride's (1-for-4) base hit to left field with two outs in the inning.
Kyla Sullivan retired the first two batters of the frame but Miami's Popson earned an infield single and Meghan Mawn drew a walk. Sarah Billstrom plated the Red Hawks' first run and Breanna Robinson was a thorn in WMU's side for the second game in a row, bringing home the game's tying run with a base hit to center field.
Miami had a pair of base hits in extra innings but could never advance a runner past second base until the bottom of the decisive frame after the runner was placed on second.
Sullivan worked all 10 innings for the win. It was her 15th of the season, giving her a new personal career best for victories in a season. It was also her 17th complete game of the year. She allowed eight hits and two earned runs, while fanning seven batters to bring season strike out total to 120.
The win over Miami improves the Broncos' 2008 record in extra-inning games to 5-1 and 3-1 against teams from the MAC. The victory also builds WMU's MAC Tournament record over the Red Hawks to 4-1. This was also the first time the two teams had met in the opening round of the tournament.
WMU will face top-seeded Kent State in the second round on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. The Flashes also battled for 10 innings, earning a 3-2 win over Akron.
