CLEARWATER, Fla. - WMU took a break between two Under Armour tournaments hosted by South Florida to play an exhibition against The Netherlands National Team, falling 2-1.
It was an international pitchers duel through the first five and a half innings before Western Michigan posted the game's first run in the bottom of the sixth. Courtney Rousseau broke the scoreless tie when freshman Mackenzie Shepeck drove a double into the outfield.
The lead would be short-lived as The Netherlands rallied to score a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning. The Broncos were unable to mount a comeback of their own in the last of the seventh, suffering the one-run loss in its first ever competition against an international opponent.
Offensively for WMU, Diana Patterson, Gracie Barstad and Jennifer Tschetter joined Rousseau with base hits in the game. Shepeck's double was the lone extra base hit of the night for WMU.
It was a staff day in the circle for WMU as Meredith Whitney and Becca Shemberger each worked a pair of scoreless innings, while Shepeck suffered the loss, pitching the final three.
The Broncos get back to the games that count this Friday when they open the USF Under Armour Showcase Tournament against Rutgers at 9:15 a.m., and Wagner at 2 p.m.
