ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Western Michigan softball team took the field against a nationally ranked opponent for the seventh time this season when the Broncos took on No. 2 Michigan on Tuesday evening.  WMU amassed five hits at the Wilpon Complex but fell short against the Wolverines, 6-1.

The Broncos were held scoreless until the top of the fourth inning but Meredith Whitney broke up the no-hitter with a lead off single to right center field.  Lexi Jager followed with an infield bunt single to third base to advance Whitney to second.  Tara Buchanan popped out on a bunt but Whitney advanced to third on a throwing error by the first baseman.

After Gracie Barstad fouled out for the second out of the inning, Courtney Rousseau singled up the middle to score Whitney.  She and Jager were stranded on base, two of five on the night, to end the threat.

Michigan scratched a run across in the bottom of the first and added two more in the home half of the second.  After WMU had but into UM's lead, the Wolverines took control with a three-run fourth inning.  The Broncos had four more bases runners the rest of the way but never advanced past second base.

WMU returns to Mid-American Conference action this weekend hosting Akron in a doubleheader on Friday (April 15) and Ohio in a two-game series on Saturday and Sunday (April 16-17).  These games are the first of 12-straight home games over the next 17 games.  First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 1 p.m.