KALAMAZOO, Mich. – On a sunny Saturday afternoon the Western Michigan softball team was swept by Ohio, 9-8 and 3-2 in their first Mid-American Conference series at Fran Ebert Field. The Broncos are now 6-16 overall with a 0-2 record in conference play.
Sophomore Kelsea Cichocki was a tough out at the plate going 6-for-10 with one RBI and two runs scored on the day. Senior Taylor Sanicki was a catalyst for the Bronco offense going 2-for-6 with three runs scored, two RBI's and one home run. On the afternoon, WMU totaled 24 hits and 11 runs with six players having two or more hits and seven different players collecting RBI's.
Game 1
After jumping out to an 8-3 lead, the Western Michigan softball team gave up six unanswered runs falling to the Ohio Bobcats, 9-8 in game of Saturday's doubleheader at Fran Ebert Field. The Bronco offense collected 14 hits.
WMU jumped out to an early 4-0 lead highlighted by Sanicki blasting a two-run home run to deep left center field, getting the Broncos on the board first. It was Sanicki's first home run of the season. Sophomore Erin Binkowski and freshman Gabby Schefka each collected RBI doubles to extend the Bronco lead in the first.
The Broncos piled on three more runs in the bottom of the second, widening their lead. With one out, senior Jenny Rohn slapped an RBI single back up the middle scoring sophomore Ivy Schaaf from second. After a fly out, sophomore Kelsea Cichocki tallied a two RBI double giving WMU the 7-0 advantage.
Ohio finally made a mark on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth when catcher Adrienne Gebele hit a two run home run to left field, narrowing the margin. The Brown and Gold battled back for one more run in the bottom half of the inning with Binkowski collecting the RBI on the fielder's choice.
In the fifth and sixth innings the Bobcats scored six unanswered runs to take the lead and completing the comeback. The Bobcats batted around in the fifth inning scoring five runs on four hits and capitalizing on two WMU errors.
Three different Broncos collected two RBI's while 10 different Broncos registered hits. Schaaf was a hot bat at the top of the line-up going 3-for-5 with two runs scored. The two through five hitters of Sanicki, Rohn, junior Melissa Palmer and Cichocki went 6-for-14 with five runs scored and five RBI's.
Game 2
In game two of Saturday's doubleheader the Broncos fell to the Bobcats 3-2 in eight innings. Junior RHP Allyson Kus went the distance for WMU surrendering just three runs on nine hits while striking out three.
Ohio rode it's momentum from game one as they tagged a run on the board in the top of the first. With a runner on third and two outs, an RBI double by Kaylin Clarke gave Ohio the early 1-0 lead. WMU responded in the bottom half of the inning when Palmer laced an RBI single to left field scoring Sanicki from third and tying the game.
In the bottom of the second, the Broncos regained the lead with a clutch RBI double by Schaaf scoring sophomore Marlee Wilson who singled to lead off the inning. WMU positioned runners on first and second with two outs in the inning but a line out to the Ohio centerfield ended the Bronco threat.
The Broncos could not hold on to the lead however as Ohio scored a run in both the seventh and eighth innings to earn the victory. Back to back singles in the top of the seventh gave Ohio runners on first and third with no outs. After Ohio catcher Madison Claytor was caught stealing second, a groundout to the shortstop by right fielder Timmie Rappe scored the runner from third and tied the game at 2-2. In the eighth Ohio first baseman Raven King singled back up the middle bringing around the runner from second, securing the 3-2 victory for the Bobcats.
In game two, seven different Broncos registered hits as Schaaf led the offensive attack going 3-for-5 with one RBI. Palmer was a tough out for the Ohio pitching staff going 2-for-4 with one RBI.
On Wednesday Apr. 1, WMU will travel to IPFW for a mid-week doubleheader before returning home next weekend to host Toledo in a doubleheader on Friday, Apr. 3. The Broncos will then host Bowling Green, Apr. 4-5.
