KALAMAZOO, Mich.- The Western Michigan softball dropped a 3-1 decision to Toledo in game one of this weekend's three-game Mid-American Conference series Friday. The two teams return to Fran Ebert Field for a doubleheader tomorrow, beginning at 1 p.m.

Toledo scored a run in the first two innings and pushed another across in the top of the seventh, openign a 3-0 lead before the Broncos got on the scoreboard with a run in the bottom of the seventh.

The Rockets used two hits and an error in the first to plate their first run and sophomore Kaitlyn Bergman made it 2-0 in the second with her third home run of the season. Jessica Lemieux hit an RBI double for UT in the seventh.

Western Michigan had two hits in the first inning but then was unable to put the bat in the ball again until the seventh.

Senior Sabrina Gamboa hit a sharp shot for a leadoff single in the seventh and with one out, junior Abby Stoner reached on an error. The Broncos loaded the bases after junior Erin Binkowski dropped a single in right center. Freshman Courtney Sleeman hit into a fielder's choice, giving WMU runners at the corners with two away. UT pitcher Marla Gooding got freshman Brooke Wyman to groundout to first to end the game.

Western Michigan (18-21, 9-5 MAC) had four hits in the game.

Toledo (11-31,4-11 MAC) managed nine hits off of senior Bronco pitcher Allyson Kus who fell to 13-10 with the loss. Kus went all seven innings and struck out seven. It was just Kus' second loss (7-2) in conference play.

Saturday will be WMU's annual StrikeOut Cancer Day, as the Broncos partner with the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and the American Cancer Society in the fight against cancer. A silent auction will be held for WMU's game-worn jerseys, with proceeds being donated to the American Cancer Society.