TAMPA, Fla. - WMU Softball went undefeated to open the 2012 Under Armour Showcase Tournament, taking out Rutgers and Wagner with identical 2-0 margins of victory.
Western Michigan softball won its fourth-straight game when Meredith Whitney starts in the circle as the senior threw a five-strikeout, two hitter in the 2-0 win over Rutgers, its first ever over the Scarlet Knights.
Whitney allowed a hit to Rutgers in each of the first two innings and then shut down the opponent. Rutgers managed two base runners in the bottom of the third with a lead-off walk and then a fielder's choice but nothing more. Whitney sat down the next 13 batters.
Rutgers' best chance to score came in the third when the Scarlet Knights attempted to steal home but was thrown out by Christina Pigozzi to Allie Carlson.
WMU didn't plate its two runs until the top of the sixth. Diana Patterson started things off with a one-out walk and was pinch ran for by Bri Russell. Courtney Rousseau singled to right center to advance Russell to second, and Tara Buchanan brought Russell home on an RBI-base hit to right field.
Colleen Lynch pinch ran for Buchanan. Gracie Barstad, who went 2-for-3 at the plate, scored Rousseau on a single up the middle.
In the second game, Becca Shemberger had a day of firsts in the circle. The Portage, Mich., native recorded her first win, first complete game and first shut out, working seven scoreless innings and allowing just four hits while striking out four.
"I am ecstatic," was the sentiment of Shemberger over the phone on Friday. "I pitched in some close games to start the season but to finally get a win feels great. I am starting to get more in tune with team, trusting the defense behind me. We are all communicating more and that contributes to us being successful no matter who is in the circle.
"Everything started on Wednesday. We had good energy and that carried through to today. We need to continue that feeling in order to be successful in our next games," added Shemberger.
WMU put together a run in the third and fifth innings in the victory. Barstad drew a bases loaded walk in the third for her second RBI of the day, scoring Whitney who reached on a walk as well. Rousseau drove in the security run in the fith with a single through the left side, scoring Whitney who led off the inning with a base hit to right field.
The Broncos had a chance to add to their lead in the sixth but stranded a pair of base runners in scoring position on an innning-ending ground out.
Wagner went quietly in the seventh, going down in order to improve the Broncos' record to 6-7 on the year. WMU takes on Temple (9:15 a.m.) and Green Bay (11:30 a.m.) on day two. The match up against Temple will stream live on Tampa Sports Live. Please click the link on the softball schedule page to subscribe.
