WMU Softball Drops 10-Inning Marathon; Takes Nightcap, 1-0

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Mandi Sayres' third inning double in the second game of a doubleheader at Buffalo gave Western Michigan a split on Friday afternoon after a 10-inning marathon ended in favor of the Bulls, 6-5, at Nan Harvey Field. Brittney Reist and Gracie Barstad hit back-to-back jacks in the loss.

The Broncos carried a two-run lead into the bottom of the fifth after breaking a three-all tie on Meredith Whitney's two-RBI single that scored Lexi Jager and Sayres. The Bulls answered in the home half of the fifth on an RBI-single and a bases loaded walk. The score remained knotted until the bottom of the 10th when a Buffalo runner, placed on second to start the inning (international extra inning rule) was driven home on a sacrifice fly. WMU was not able to plate a run in the top of the ninth or 10th when a runner was place on second.

Down two runs in entering the top of the second Reist and Barstad led off the frame with back-to-back home runs, the third and second of their respective seasons, to draw the Broncos even. WMU took a 3-2 lead in the top of the third when Jager stole her 16th base of the year, stealing home after reaching base with a lead off double. Buffalo tied the score on a two-out double to left center field.

Despite throwing every pitch of the 10 innings and recording her fifth double-digit strike out of the year with 14, Whitney suffered the loss in the circle in game one. Meghan Thomas improved to 7-8 with a complete-game shut out, her second of the season, in game two.

Western Michigan needed only one run to take the second game and that run came thanks to a double off the bat of Sayres, her eighth of the season. After Michelle Bendewald led off with an infield single, she advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Amanda McBride and then stole third before scoring on Sayres' two-bagger.

Each team managed just four hits apiece in the second game after exploding for a combined 17 hits in game one. Buffalo stranded five runners on the base paths in its loss. Western Michigan travels to Kent State (May 2-3) for its final two games of the regular season.

Print Friendly Version