OXFORD, Ohio - The Western Michigan softball team could not complete the series sweep at Miami, falling to the Red Hawks, 2-1, on a walk-off base hit up the middle. WMU closes the regular season with a record of 20-27 and 14-6 in the Mid-American Conference, earning a regular season MAC title and the top seed in the upcoming conference tournament in Akron, Ohio.
WMU didn't collect its first hit of the game until Gracie Barstad's one-out single to left field in the top of the fourth. Michelle Bendewald and Meredith Whitney registered back-to-back base hits in the fifth but were stranded in scoring position.
The Broncos scratched out their only run of the game in the top of the sixth. Tara Buchanan led off the inning with a single to right field. Pinch runner Courtney Burnett advanced to second on Barstad's sacrifice bunt but was thrown out at third on Courtney Rousseau's base hit to center field. Rousseau put herself in scoring position on the play, advancing to second on the throw to third, and scored on Diana Patterson's base knock through the left side.
The run in the sixth was an answer to Miami's score in the bottom of the fifth, on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Daniella Torres. After WMU was not able to capitalize on an Allie Carlson lead-off single in the seventh, Torres came up big again, taking a hit back up the middle bringing home the game winning run. Torres was responsible for all four Miami runs during the weekend.
Western Michigan now turns its attention to Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio, the site of the 2011 MAC Tournament where the Broncos are the top seed after clinching their fourth regular season MAC title in program history and first since 2006.
The Broncos will play the second game of opening day, Wednesday, May 11, at 1:30 p.m. against No. 8 seed Kent State. Depending on that game's outcome, WMU will face either No. 4 seed Ball State or No. 5 seed Eastern Michigan at either 11 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 12.
The MAC will provide live stats for all tournament games, which can be followed through www.wmubroncos.com. WMU will also conduct live chats for every Bronco tournament game. Please join by clicking the graphic that will be available on the right side of the softball page at the start of each game.
