EAST LANSING, Mich.- Western Michigan softball posted a 4-3 win on the road at Michigan State Wednesday, defeating the Spartans for the first time since 2006. Sophomore
Erin Binkowski's solo home run for WMU in the sixth proved to be the game-winning run.
Binkowski was WMU's starting pitcher, but was switched out for junior
Allyson Kus after the first inning when the Spartans took a 2-0 lead on back-to-back home runs by Kassidy Kujawa and Stephanie Sanders. Binkowski remained in the batting order as the designated player.
Western Michigan scored three runs in the top of the fifth to briefly pull ahead 3-2. Michigan State countered with a run in the bottom half of the inning to knot the count at three all.
Freshman right fielder
Geordin Craun led off the Bronco at bat in the fifth with a walk, followed by a fielder's choice by
Ivy Schaaf in which both base runners reached safely. A bunt single by senior catcher
Taylor Sanicki loaded the bags for the Broncos and
Jenny Rohn drove in the first run with a sac fly.
Melissa Palmer grounded out for the second out of the inning and sophomore third baseman
Kelsea Cichocki delivered a two-run single through the left side.
Sarah Gutknecht hit a one-out single for Michigan State in the bottom of the fifth and scored on an RBI double by pinch hitter Jordan Davis.
Binkowski stepped to the plate in the lead off at bat of the sixth and blasted a ball over the 220 sign in center field for her team-leading sixth home run of the season.
Kus allowed a leadoff walk in the bottom of the sixth but then went on to retire the next six batters she faced to close out the win. She allowed one run, scattered five hits, walked three and struck out two over 6.0 innings pitched and improved her record to 7-6 on the season.
Western Michigan upped its overall record to 18-19 while the Spartans fell to 16-31.
WMU returns to Kalamazoo for a Mid-American Conference four-game homestand this weekend. The Broncos host Central Michigan in a doubleheader on Friday and then take on Eastern Michigan in single games Saturday and Sunday. Saturday will be Alumni Day for the Broncos and Sunday will be Senior Day, as well as the final home game of the season.
