TEMPE, Ariz. - Western Michigan scored five runs in the fourth inning to erase a four-run deficit against No. 9 Tennessee but eventually fell to the Lady Volunteers in the Broncos' 2012 Kajikawa Classic finale.
Junior Diana Patterson had a career day,going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and four RBIs and becoming the seventh Bronco to hit two home runs in a game in program history and joining teammate Meredith Whitney as the only current Broncos to accomplish the feat. Patterson entered today's game with one career home run.
WMU's come back in the fourth started with Courtney Rousseau reaching base after a passed ball on strike three. Jennifer Tschetter then reached base when her sacrifice bunt in front of the plate caused an errant throw to first base. Meredith Whitney drove in the Broncos first run of the game on a single.
Tara Buchanan ripped a double down the left field line to score a pair pulled WMU within two at 4-2 with runners on second and third. Patterson drove a three-run home run over the left center field wall to give the Broncos a 5-4 lead over the ninth ranked team in the country.
Tennessee took a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the same inning, loading the bases for the fourth time in five innings and even though the Lady Vols scratched one run across it would have been worse if it weren't for a Allie Carlson to Whitney to Buchanan double play, ending the threat.
Patterson drew Western Michigan even with her second home run of the game, clearing the right field wall in the top of the sixth
WMU pitching allowed 13 batters to reach base on a free pass, which was the Broncos' downfall late in the game as Tennessee answered in the home half of the sixth with a three-run blast from Melissa Davis, her second home run of the game.
Western Michigan fought until its final out as Rousseau and Tschetter each collected base hits to bring the tying run to the plate three times. Whitney, WMU's second most prolific home run hitter, and Buchanan each struck out and Emma Bogart popped out to Madison Shipman at shortstop to end WMU's second comeback bid and the game.
UT jumped out to a 4-0 lead, scoring a run in the opening inning and three more in the home half of the third.
Western Michigan is now off until its spring break trip to Tampa for the University of South Florida Under Armour Invitational (March 2-4) and the USF Under Armour Showcase Tournament (March 9-11) sandwiched around a game against the Netherlands National Team on March 7.
