KAJIKAWA CLASSIC TOURNAMENT PAGE

GAME STATISTICS

TEMPE, Ariz. - Western Michigan opens the 2010 season in record-breaking fashion, as junior midfielder Michelle Bendewald registered a Bronco single-game record eight RBIs.  Lexi Jager tied her own single-game mark with a two home run effort in the Broncos' 21-16 come-from-behind win over Ole Miss on Thursday at the Kajikawa Classic hosted by Arizona State.

"This was an interesting game to say the least," said head coach Kathy Leitke over the phone.  "When they put five runs up in the top of first, I joked that there could be 25 runs scored tonight.  Little did I know there would be 37 and we would have 21 of them."

The Rebels did kick off the game with five runs in the top of the opening inning but WMU battled back with four tallies of their own in the home half of the frame.  Jager led off with a walk and Sarah Thomas followed by reaching on an error.  Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and Gracie Barstad followed with another walk.  After a pop out to second, Meredith Whitney also drew a walk, one of nine for WMU on Thursday, scoring Jager to put WMU on the board.

Freshman Diana Patterson collected her first collegiate RBI by earning a base on balls to score Thomas.  Molly Lange plated the final two runs of the inning with a two-out base hit to right field, scoring Whitney and Barstad.  Patterson attempted to tie the game but was thrown out at the plate.

After Ole Miss plated three more runs, Western Michigan did tie the game in the bottom of the second, scoring for more runs.  Jager led off the inning with the first of her three hits on the day with an infield single.  Thomas followed with another infield hit/  Each scored unearned runs on a fielding error and a fielder's choice, respectively.  Bendewald collected the first of her eight RBIs with a single to right field, scoring Whitney and Kayla Houston, who had driven in Thomas.

Bendewald's record-setting day broke a mark that had stood for three seasons after former catcher Becky Bartosz had seven RBIs against Illinois-Chicago in 2007.  Amanda Heckaman had initially set the record against Northern Illinois in 2006.

"Bende had strong cuts in early at bats.  I am very proud and pleased with her effort.  She stepped into a position with the opportunity to come through and she did in a big way," added Leitke.

Western Michigan's lone run of the third came off Jager's bat, a solo shot to right field. She followed with another solo home run to right field in her next at bat in the bottom of the fifth.  It is sixth time in program history a hitter has had two home runs in a game and it is the second time Jager has accomplished the feat in her career.  She originally tied the mark with two shots against Ohio in the 2009 MAC Tournament.

Twenty-six combined had been scored during the first five and a half innings, but down, 16-10, heading into the bottom of the sixth, Western Michigan's offense came to life.  The Broncos scored 11 runs in the bottom of the frame to put the game away and claim their first win of the year.

Barstad led off with a walk and Houston followed with a base knock to left field.  Whitney plated Barstad with a double.  Patterson picked her second RBI of the day with a single to center, scoring Houston.  Bendewald sent a shot over the left center field wall to score Patterson and Whitney.  She would later double of the left center field wall for three more RBIs, finishing the day 3-for-5 at the plate.

"I told the team to be patient heading into that inning but once we got some base runners we started to take advantage of the tight strike zone and used it in our favor," commented Leitke.  "It was a crazy game and with it being the first for many on the team, there were jitters but I wanted to see if they would make adjustments and they did.  I am very proud of their complete effort."

Western Michigan's 20 team RBIs were one shy of the 21 registered by the Broncos against Delta College in 1979.  The 21 runs were two shy of the team record set in the same game against Delta.

Eight Broncos collected hits on Thursday with four having multi-hit days.  Meghan Thomas, who pitched five innings in relief, picked up her first win of the season and the 18th victory of her career.  It does not get easier for the Broncos as their next opponent at the Kajikawa Classic will be No. 4 Arizona on Friday afternoon (5 p.m. ET).