Game 1 Stats
Game 2 Stats

ATTENTION WMU SOFTBALL FANS: THE BRONCOS WILL FACE AKRON IN A DOUBLEHEADER ON SATURDAY BEGINNING AT 1 P.M.!!

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Samantha Vargocko, Kayla Houston and Lexi Jager went yard against Ohio in Western Michigan's 4-0 and 3-1 sweep to open Mid-American Conference play on Friday afternoon at Fran Ebert Field.  Bronco pitching allowed just six hits over the two games as Meredith Whitney and Meghan Thomas each worked complete game victories.

All of WMU's offense during game one came in one inning as the Broncos scored four runs in the bottom of the second inning.  Houston led off the inning with the first home run of her career on a 2-2 offering from the Bobcats' starting pitcher, Emily Wethington.  Brittney Reist followed with a base hit to left field.  Sarah Thomas reached on a fielder's choice and pinch runner Chelsea Westenburg was safe at second.  After a foul out Vargocko stepped to the plate and stroked her first home run of the season, eighth of her career, to give WMU its four-run lead.

Before Western Michigan plated the four runs Ohio's offense put a scare into the home crowd, loading the bases with no one out.  Deana Hartsough led off with a single to left field.  She was followed by a base on balls by Wethington and Sarah Clark reached on a fielder's choice and Harstough was safe at third on a fielding error by Houston.  Whitney went to work, getting Jill Viguers to pop out, Erica Girard fanned and Brooke Morgart grounded out to end the threat.

Whitney allowed just two more hits the rest of the way, striking out seven in the game, en route to her eighth complete game and fourth shut out of the season.

Ohio's Shaleen Petrich answered the bell with a home run to lead off the second game off Thomas, but Jager's second at bat of the game brought home three runs for the Broncos.  Her third home run of the year scored Houston, who reached base on a one-out base hit, and Amanda McBride, who also singled.  Jager continued to have the hot bat this week, following a 4-for-8 performance against Michigan State and Notre Dame the Kalamazoo native went 1-for-3 in each game on Friday, collecting three RBIs and a run scored.

Mandi Sayres was also effective at the plate, going 2-for-5 against Ohio, including a 2-for-3 performance in the second game of the doubleheader.  Western Michigan out hit Ohio, 16-6, outscoring the opponent, 7-1, with opportunities for more as the Broncos stranded 14 runners on the base paths over the two games.

The Bobcats managed just two more hits after Petrich's long shot as Thomas worked a complete game victory in her seventh start of the season.  Thomas also fielded her position to perfection as eight of Ohio's attempted hits came back through the box, all resulting in 1-to-3 put outs.

Western Michigan will continue its home stand this weekend against Akron.  The Zips were swept at Northern Illinois, 2-3 and 3-4.  The games are scheduled for Saturday (2 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.), but weather may force the two teams to play a doubleheader on Saturday.  Please check www.wmubroncos.com for up to the minute changes to WMU softball's schedule.