WMU vs. CMU Game Stats - Game 1
WMU vs. CMU Game Stats - Game 2
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - The Western Michigan softball team ends the 2010 season with a 2-1 win at rival Central Michigan to earn a split of the season-series today at Margo Jonker Field. Gracie Barstad ends the season having reached base safely in 17 of the last 18 games this season, going 3-for-7 with her fifth home run of the season, scoring two runs and driving in two more.
Sunday's second game was, by definition, a pitchers duel with both starters working all nine innings and allowing a combined 12 hits in 62 official at bats (.194). Meghan Thomas earned her third win of the season, striking out three batters in her fourth complete game of the year.
Barstad's team-leading fifth home run of the year came on the first pitch she saw to lead off the top of the fourth inning. The blast over the left field wall tied the score after the Chippewas had taken an early one-run lead in the bottom of the second frame when an error brought a run across the plate.
The Broncos played their sixth extra-inning game on Sunday, improving to 2-3-1. In the top of the ninth Barstad singled back to the pitcher with one out in the inning. She worked her way into scoring position courtesy of a wild pitch and scored what ended up being the winning run on Meredith Whitney's single back up the middle facing two outs. Barstad either drove in or scored every run for WMU against CMU on Sunday.
CMU led off the bottom of the ninth with a double to right center field and a walk, putting the winning run on base. The Broncos cut down the lead runner at third base for the inning's first out and then forced a fly out for out number two. The game ended on a ground out to Barstad at shortstop.
The Broncos dropped the series-opening game, 5-1, with Central Michigan scoring four of its runs on two home runs in the second and fourth innings, respectively. WMU cut the deficit to four runs in the top of the fifth. Courtney Rousseau led off the fifth by earning a base on balls. She advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on Sarah Thomas' ground out to shortstop. Rousseau scored on Barstad's single through the right side. CMU reclaimed its four-run margin in the home half of the fifth.
Western Michigan ended the season 13-25-1 overall and 8-13-1 in the MAC. The team finished a half game out of the last spot in this year's MAC Tournament, missing the event for the first time since the 2001 campaign.
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