WMU vs. Ball State Game Stats
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Western Michigan tied the program's single-game home run record with four blasts on Senior Day at Fran Ebert Field in a 6-5 loss to Ball State. Junior Michelle Bendewald also tied the record for home runs in a game by one player with two shots, becoming the sixth Bronco to accomplish the feat.
Four of the Broncos' five hits were home runs and all five of Western Michigan's runs came courtesy of the long ball. It was the first time WMU had hit four home runs in a game since May 4, 2003 against Ohio. It was the third time this season that the Broncos had multiple home runs in a game, hitting two against Austin Peay on March 5 and three against Ole Miss to open the season on Feb. 11. The last time WMU had three home runs in a Mid-American Conference game was exactly one year ago today, May 2, 2009 against Kent State.
Bendewald joins teammates Lexi Jager and Meredith Whitney, former teammate Samantha Vargocko, Linda Harrall and Lynette Nevins as the only Broncos to hit two home runs in a game. Jager and Whitney hit theirs in 2009, Vargocko in 2008, Harrall in 1979 and Nevins two years earlier in 1977.
After Ball State jumped out to a 4-0 lead through an inning and a half, Meghan Thomas led off the bottom of the second with her fourth home run of the season, all coming in MAC games. Whitney earned a walk two batters later, Bendewald lifted her first home run of the day over the center field wall to pull WMU to within a run, 4-3.
The Broncos side stepped a lead-off single in the top of the third to hold the Cardinals scoreless, giving Gracie Barstad the opportunity to tie the game with one swing of the bat, which she did on a 2-1 offering that sailed over the left field wall.
Ball State took the lead for good on an RBI-single back up the middle in the top of the fourth. The Cardinals added what turned out to be a much needed insurance run in the top of the when Jessie Ware led off with a single and reached third on a throwing error from center field. She scored on a fielder's choice two batters later.
Bendewald tallied the game's final run with her smash to left field, giving her four home runs on the season. The St. Joseph, Mich., native, who went 2-for-3 on Sunday, is tied for the team lead in home runs with Meghan Thomas. The only Bronco hit that was not a home run came in the bottom of the fifth when Courtney Rousseau singled to right field on a 3-2 pitch with one out in the inning.
Prior to Sunday's game, the Broncos honored their four seniors, Molly Lange, Chelsea Westenburg, Meghan Thomas and Sarah Thomas. Western Michigan takes on No. 2 Michigan this Tuesday in Ann Arbor, Mich. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. The Broncos close out the regular season on the road with a doubleheader at Eastern Michigan (May 7), beginning at 1 p.m. followed by a two-game series with rival Central Michigan (May 8-9).
