BUFFALO, N.Y. - Lexi Jager's two-run home run in the top of the third in game one was
the difference in the Broncos' 2-0 win over Buffalo to open the
doubleheader on Saturday.
WMU came from three runs down to tie the score and from one run down in
the sixth but the Bulls outlasted the Broncos in the ninth, taking the
5-4 win in extra innings to force the series split.
WMU entered the third inning of the first game having already collected a pair of hits but stranded three base runners. Meredith Whitney opened the third with a four-pitch walk. Jager looked at one pitch before homering to center field for her third of the season and program best 20th of her career.
It was all the offense Whitney would need as the junior recorded her first shutout victory of the season and eighth of her career. She finished with five strikeouts in the start and seven more in relief in game two. Those 12 punch outs give her 399 for her career. The next strikeout she records will make her only the third pitcher in Bronco softball history with 400 or more K's in a career and leave her 11 away from moving into second place on the career list.
The second game was a back and forth battle with Buffalo jumping out to a 3-0 lead, scoring a run in the first and two more in the second. WMU answered back with a three-run third inning. Michelle Bendewald led off with a double down the left field line. After Whitney singled to third base, Jager lined out and Tara Buchanan walked, Gracie Barstad collected an RBI on a single back to the pitcher.
Courtney Rousseau singled to left field to score Whitney and Kayla Houston drew a bases loaded walk for WMU's third and final run of the inning. Buffalo answered in the home half of the third with a run to reclaim a 4-3 lead.
It wasn't until the top of the sixth that the Broncos scratched out a fourth run that would send the game to extra innings. Jennifer Tschetter led off with a triple and scored on a wild pitch.
Buffalo was sat down in order in the sixth, seventh and eighth and WMU managed only two base runners in the seventh and ninth, leaving th door open for the Bulls. After a lead-off single and a sacrifice bunt to start the inning, a one-out base hit through the right side ended it, and the game.
Western Michigan travels to Ann Arbor, Mich., to face its seventh nationally ranked opponent of the season when the Broncos take on No. 3 Michigan at 6 p.m.
