WMU vs. Austin Peay Game Stats
WMU vs. Wagner Game Stats
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Western Michigan softball posted 20 runs in wins over Austin Peay, 9-0 in five innings, and Wagner, 11-3 in eight innings. Lexi Jager and Gracie Barstad each went deep for the Broncos on Friday. Barstad went 5-for-8 with four RBIs in the two wins, while Meredith Whitney and Meghan Thomas each picked wins in the circle for WMU.
It was all Western Michigan in the first game against the Governors of Austin Peay, scoring five runs in the bottom of the second and two more in the third and fourth innings, respectivley. Both Jager and Barstad homered in bottom of the fourth for the Broncos. Jager led off the inning with a blast to left center and Barstad launched a shot to straight away center with one out for her first home run of the season.
Whitney worked four innings, giving up just two hits and fanning seven batters for the second-straight outing. Molly Lange worked the fifth, giving up no hits.
The nightcap was more of a nail biter for Bronco fans against Wagner. WMU took an early 1-0 lead when Sarah Thomas scored, after leading off with a double, when Chelsea Westenburg reached on an error. Wagner answered with a run of its own in the home half of the first, and took a 2-1 lead in the next inning thanks to a solo home run.
All was quiet until the top of the second when Whitney led off with a double and later scored to tie the game, forcing extra innings, when Jenn Tschetter reached on an error by the shortstop. WMU wasted no time in putting the game way, scoring nine runs in the top of the eighth to put the game away.
Using international rules for extra inning games, Tschetter was placed on second and scored on an RBI single from Jager. Courtney Rousseau doubled, advancing Jager to third. Barstad collected a hit, scoring Jager and Rousseau scored on a fielding error. Michelle Bendewald drew a walk and another error allowed two more Bronco runs. Westenburg tripled to left field, scoring Meghan Thomas and she herself later scored when Tschetter doubled to right field.
Jager collected her second hit and run of the inning with a single to left center, crossing the plate on when Rousseau reached on a fielder's choice and later stole second. In all the Broncos scored nine runs on six hits and thanks to three Wagner errors.
Western Michigan continues play in Clearwater, Fla. with a doubleheader against UAB (5 p.m.) and Quinnipiac (7 p.m.) on Saturday evening.
