TEMPE, Ariz.- Western Michigan softball dropped its first game 8-5 after a late rally by Creighton, but rebounded to post a 5-4 win over Big Ten opponent Indiana at the Kajikawa Classic Friday.

Sophomore left fielder Ivy Schaaf went 5-for-7 on the day with four RBIs, two home runs, a double, three runs scored, a stolen base and a walk.

Sophomore Erin Binkowski picked up the win on the mound in game two going five innings and junior Allyson Kus earned her fifth career save.

The Broncos (1-2) battle Seattle and UC Riverside tomorrow and wrap up their stay in Arizona against Ole Miss on Sunday.

 

GAME 1: WMU 5, CREIGHTON 8
Schaaf went 3-for-3 with three RBIs in game one, belting a double and a pair of home runs. She gave WMU a 1-0 lead with a solo shot to left in the first and pushed the Broncos ahead 3-0 with a two-run blast in her next at bat in the third.

Creighton fought back with four runs in the fourth, using three hits a walk and a hit by pitch.

WMU freshman Haley Thibeault evened the score at 4-4 in the fourth, scoring a run with a ground-rule double for her first collegiate hit. The Broncos pulled back in front with a run in the fifth. Schaaf walked, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. She crossed the plate on a fielding error.

Defensively, Western Michigan did a good job shutting the door in the sixth, turning its second double play of the game. Things started off shaky in the top of the seventh however, allowing the leadoff batter to reach on an error.

Creighton went on to string together four hits with one out, including a two-run triple by Elizabeth Dike, to take an 8-5 lead.

In the Broncos' final at bat in the bottom of the seventh, Schaaf hit a one-out double to give WMU a runner in scoring position. Creighton closed out the win with a flyout and a strikeout.

Freshman pitcher Anissa Sanchez (0-1) made her first career start in the circle and only allowed three one hit through the first three innings. Creighton caught up to her as the game progressed though. She was charged with eight runs (seven earned) and eight hits over 6.1 innings. She struck out three, walked three and hit two batters.

Senior Becca Shemberger recorded the final two outs for WMU. It was Schemberger's first action since 2013 as she missed last year win injury.

GAME 2: WMU 5, INDIANA 4
Schaaf continued swinging a hot bat in game two, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Sophomore Erin Binkowski pulled double duty, getting the win on the rubber and batting 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Freshman Gabby Schefka smacked a two-run double for her first career hit.

It was the second straight victory for Western Michigan against its Big Ten opponent, also defeating the Hoosiers the last time the two met in 2005.

Indiana struck first with a pair of one-run singles in the first and WMU responded with three runs on five hits in the top of the second. Binkowski, Taylor Sanicki and Schaaf each roped RBI singles. Kelsea Cichocki and Melissa Palmer also had base hits in the inning.

WMU went ahead 5-2 in the second when Schefka followed singles by Jenny Rohn and Binkowski with a two-run double to right field.

Indiana mustered a run with a walk, a single and wild pitch in the fifth and tallied a final run in the seventh on a bases-loaded groundout.

Binkowski's (1-1) line read three runs, five hits, three walks and two strikeouts over five innings pitched. Kus fanned two, walked three and allowed one run and one hits in two innings.