BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Western Michigan softball book ended the 2013 Holiday Inn Hilltopper Classic with wins, closing out the tournament with a 2-1 victory over Valparaiso.
The Broncos claimed their 18th win over Valparaiso to extend their lead in the all-time series to 18-4, but it was WMU's first win over Valpo since March 19, 2003.
Mackenzie Shepeck was in the circle for her second start of the tournament, and of her career. She matched her career best strikeout effort with eight punch outs but earned the win in this outing, giving up just one earned run on six hits in her first career complete game.
WMU scratched out two runs in the win, the first tying the score in the third inning on a single down the right field line off the bat of Emma Bogart. Bogart went 4-for-9 (.444) with the one RBI, appearing in two of the five games as a pinch hitter.
Diana Patterson gave WMU the lead in the top of the sixth. Bogart led off the game with her second hit of the game and advanced to second base on a Sabrina Gamboa sac bunt. Patterson hit her second double of the tournament, scoring Bogart and giving the Broncos a lead they would not relinquish.
Valpo struck first in the bottom of the second when a lead off double eventually resulted in a run. For the fourth time this tournament, WMU gave up a base on balls with the bases loaded. Valparaiso threatened in the bottom of the seventh.
With two outs, Valpo had its second double of the game but that runner was stranded at second base as the final at bat resulted in Shepeck's eighth strikeout of the game.
WMU opened the day with possibly the best game of the tournament. Becca Shemberger worked her sixth career complete game and the second one-hit effort in a game started. She gave up the lone hit to South Dakota State in the second inning but suffered the 1-0 loss in part to 11 walks allowed and also due to an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh.
WMU also registered its lone hit of the game in the second inning. Loren Nagy hit her third double of the tournament but was stranded on third after advancing on a passed ball.
The Broncos best scoring chance came in the sixth. Jenny Rohn was hit by a pitch and Elisha Handshoe reached on a fielder's choice. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and Gamboa loaded the bases when she reached base by a base on balls. Patterson put a bat on the ball but Handshoe was out at third to end the threat.
The Broncos go down south next week for the first of two tournaments hosted by the University of South Florida, beginning with Georgia State at 1:15 p.m. on March 1.
