CLEARWATER, Fla. - Western Michigan softball opened the 2013 USF Under Armour Invitational fell to Georgia State, 11-2, and Florida Gulf Coast, 7-1, on Friday.
In the tournament opener, WMU fell behind quickly as the Panthers jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead after the top of the first. Three runs scored on a double, a fourth crossed the plate on a wild pitch and the fifth run scored on a ground out to first base.
The Broncos plated their only runs of the game in the home half of the third inning. Melissa Palmer drew a two-out walk followed by Caity Pixley doing the same. Sabrina Gamboa hit her first career triple to clear the bases.
GSU would score another run in the fourth to take its advantage back to four runs and blew the game open with another five runs in the top of the seventh. The game ended on a peculiar play as Western Michigan had an illegal substitution, resulting in the third and final out.
Later in the afternoon, the Broncos faced Florida Gulf Coast, which is receiving votes in national polls coming into the week.
After giving up a pair of runs in the top of the first, WMU scored to cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the opening inning. Palmer led off with a single and advanced to second on an fielding error. Gamboa plated her third RBI of the day on a ground out to the shortstop but it would be the only run despite six hits throughout.
Mackenzie Shepeck, despite giving up seven earned runs on as many hits, nearly matched her career high in strikeouts for the third straight start. She fanned seven batters and now has 18 punch outs in nine appearances in the circle so far in 2013.
Gamboa led the way offensively for WMU with a 3-for-7 effort (.429) with a double and a triple, and three RBIs. Palmer went 2-for-5 (.400) on the day and Jenny Rohn also had a mult-hit day, going 2-for-4 (.500) at the plate.
Western Michigan continues at the USF Under Armour Invitational Saturday with games against Stephen F. Austin and Saint Joseph's. It will be the first ever meeting between WMU and SFA and only the second meeting ever, first since 1989 (W, 14-0) against SJU.
