CLEARWATER, Fla. - Western Michigan has now played four teams ranked in the top 20 in the country in its first 10 games of the season after falling 6-1 to No. 16 Missouri on Sunday morning to close out the USF Invitational. The Broncos will play a doubleheader against Maine on March 1 and then a single game against South Florida on March 2 to get ready for their next tournament.
The Broncos fell behind early against the Tigers, allowing three runs in the bottom of the first. The opening frame has been an issue for Western Michigan so far in 2011, getting outscored 24-3 in the first.
WMU answered with its only run of the game in the top of the second. Lexi Jager led off with a single through the left side. Meredith Whitney laid down a sac bunt to advance the senior right fielder. She advanced to third uncontested and scored on Michelle Bendewald's base hit to center field.
Bendewald led the Broncos offensively this past week with a .333 batting average a run scored, two RBIs and extra base hit. Whitney, who suffered the loss against Missouri, led with 11 strikeouts in two starts.
Courtney Rousseau went 2-for-3 against Missouri and hit .286 on the week. Myranda McDonald also recorded a hit against the Tigers, going 1-for-3.
WMU will play Maine in a doubleheader, beginning at 2 p.m., on March 2 in Clearwater, Fla.
