Clearwater, Fla. – Western Michigan's softball team opened play at the USF Under Armour Invitational with a pair of victories Friday, defeating Villanova, 6-0, and Cornell 8-0.

The shutouts were WMU's second and third of the season and the Broncos improved their record to 5-6 with the wins.

The Broncos pitching staff combined for only allowing seven hits and three walks to go along with zero runs scored. The Broncos offense was fueled by timely hitting that produced one huge offensive inning in each game.

Game 1: WMU vs. Villanova

The Broncos tallied seven hits in the contest against the Big East opponent Villanova en route of a 6-0 win.

Senior Allyson Kus (3-2) earned the win for the Broncos striking out three over five innings pitched. Through four innings both teams were scoreless until senior Caity Pixley led off the fifth with a walk and senior Sabrina Gamboa turned over the lineup with triple down the right field line. Sopho more Anissa Sanchez earned the save coming in for the last six outs.

The Broncos bats became too much for Villanova in the top of the sixth, junior Kelsea Cichocki doubled to center to start things off. Junior Erin Binkowski walked, Brooke Wyman reached on an error loading bases and Caitlin Pixley took a walk to bring home the first run of the inning making the score 2-0.

Sophomore Gabby Schefka blasted a single to center which scored all three runners to extend WMU's lead to 5-0. Sanchez took the mound in the sixth and would secure the win for Kus and earn her second save of the season. The Broncos tacked on one more run in the seventh with Ivy Schaaf scoring on a throwing error from third.  Villanova was able to get two runners on in the seventh but to no avail with Williams making a spectacular diving catch in center for the final out.

Game 2: WMU vs. Cornell

The Broncos notched eight hits, eight runs and seven walks against Cornell in the second contest of the day.

Freshman Jordan Kurth (2-2) started for the Brown & Gold and pitched a gem which included six strikeouts and only two hits. The Broncos offense continued its impressive performance notching six runs in the second inning. With one down Abby Stoner and Courtney Sleemam walked to put runners on first and second, Williams laid down a well-placed bunt and beat the throw at first to load the bases. Gamboa was hit by pitch brining in one run, followed by Palmer blasting a bases clearing triple to put the Broncos up 5-0. Schaaf hit a double bringing home Palmer to make it a six run inning.

Kurth retired nine Cornell batters in a row through the third, fourth and fifth innings. In the sixth inning Schaaf was walked followed by a Cichocki single to center. Stoner would send the runners home with a single after Sleeman was hit by a pitch to put the Broncos up 8-0.

Western Michigan is back in action tomorrow, facing St. Bonaventure at 12:15 p.m. and Providence at 2:45 p.m. The Brown and Gold will play a total of 12 games while in Florida, March 4-13.