AKRON, Ohio- No. 5 Western Michigan advanced to day three of the 2015 Mid-American Conference Softball Tournament, eliminating defending tournament champion and No. 8 seeded Ohio with a 10-2, five-inning Bronco victory.
Western Michigan was held scoreless yesterday in a 2-0 loss to No. 4 Central Michigan but got the bats going early Thursday morning, plating four runs in the first inning. WMU added two runs in the fourth and sophomore first baseman Marlee Wilson capped the win with a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the fifth, smashing a ball out over the fence in straightaway center field.
Sophomore designated player Erin Binkowski also went deep for the Broncos in the first inning, crushing her team-leading seventh home run of the season just inside the left field foul pole. Binkowski's shot brought two in to score and doubled a two-run lead to a 4-0 Bronco advantage.
All four of WMU's runs in the first inning were generated with two outs. Junior second baseman Melissa Palmer drove in the first run with a triple to right center, scoring Jenny Rohn who reached base after being hit by a pitch. Sophomore third baseman Kelsea Cichocki brought Palmer home with a single through the left side.
Ohio cut the deficit to 4-1 with a run in the top of the second after Bobcat second baseman Casie Hutchinson got on board with a leadoff single.
Western Michigan extended its lead to 6-1 in the fourth. Freshman right fielder Geordin Craun started WMU's at bat with a single through the right side. With one away, junior shortstop Sabrina Gamboa followed with a single through the left side. Sophomore left fielder Ivy Schaaf delivered a two-out single to shallow right and went on to steal second, prompting a throw down to second that squirted into the outfield, allowing Gamboa to trot home from third.
The Bobcats notched their second run of the game in the top of the fifth. Madison Claytor hit a leadoff double and scored after a pop fly and a groundout.
In the bottom of the fifth, Palmer walked, Cichocki singled to left with one out and Craun ripped a two-out single up the middle to load the bases for Wilson. Wilson's grand slam was the first of her career and her fourth home run of the season.
Junior pitcher Allyson Kus (9-9) started in the circle for the second straight game of the tournament for WMU and held Ohio to two runs, three hits and struck out two in the win.
Western Michigan totaled 10 hits as a team offensively. Schaaf, Cichocki and Craun each went 2-for-3.
WMU (22-25) will play No. 3 Miami tomorrow in an elimination game at 10:30 a.m. If the Broncos win the 10:30 a.m. contest they will play again Friday evening at 6 p.m.
