Box Score NOTRE DAME, Ind.- Western Michigan softball gave a hard-nosed effort, but fell on the road at No. 18 ranked Notre Dame Tuesday, 6-3.
The Fighting Irish (33-6) raced out to an early 6-0 lead before the Broncos (18-20) fought back with three runs in the top of the fifth. Caitlyn Brooks gave Notre Dame a 2-0 advantage with a two-run single in the third, scoring Karley Wester who reached on a double and Melissa Rochford who got on with a walk.
Wester, who leads the Irish with a .452 batting average, gave her team a big boost in the fourth, hitting a grand slam to open a 6-0 lead.
After being held to one hit through the first four frames, Western Michigan got its bats going in the fifth. Junior
Erin Binkowski led off with a single through the left side and freshman
Courtney Sleeman followed with a single to the opposite side of the infield. Senior
Caity Pixley drew a pinch-hit walk to load the bases and junior
Ivy Schaaf drove in the Broncos' first run with a single to right field. Senior
Melissa Palmer put two more runs on the board with a two-run single to left center. The Broncos continued to threaten, but left the bases loaded as a popout ended the WMU at bat.
The Broncos put two runners on in the sixth with one out after a single by Sleeman and freshman
Brooke Wyman. WMU was unable to push either across as Notre Dame again avoided damage, recording a pair of back-to-back groundouts. WMU was retired in order in the seventh.
Senior
Allyson Kus (13-10) started in the pitcher's circle for Western Michigan and took the loss, allowing two runs, four hits and one walk over three innings. She struck out one. Freshman
Jordan Kurth threw two innings of relief, giving up the grand slam to Wester and sophomore
Anissa Sanchez closed out the game, throwing a scoreless sixth.
Sleeman finished the game 2-for-2 at the plate. Western Michigan had seven hits total.
The Broncos return to Kalamazoo to host host Toledo in a three-game MAC series, April 22-23. Western Michigan currently leads the MAC West Division with a 9-4 record in conference play.
Friday's game one at Fran Ebert Field is at 3 p.m., followed by a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday will be WMU's annual StrikeOut Cancer Day, as the Broncos partner with the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) in the fight against cancer.
