Softball | May 12, 2016

AKRON, Ohio- No. 5 seeded Western Michigan softball defeated No. 8 Central Michigan, 2-0, in an elimination game Thursday to stay alive in the Mid-American Conference Tournament at Firestone Stadium.

WMU advances in the one-loss bracket and will meet the loser of today's 3:30 p.m. matchup between No. 2 Miami and No. 3 Ohio in a 10:30 a.m. contest tomorrow. The winner of that game goes on to play a second game on Friday at 6 p.m.

Senior pitcher Allyson Kus (16-15) went the distance against the Chippewas, hurling a two-hit, complete game shutout. She surrendered a single to the leadoff batter in the first and then remained untouched until the bottom of the seventh, yielding a shallow one-out single to right field.

Senior Melissa Palmer etched her name in the Western Michigan record book, becoming the Broncos' all-time career hits leader. She singled up the middle in the third for her 218th career hit, breaking the 25-year old record (217) previously held by Julie Liljeberg (1988-91).

Seven different Western Michigan players tallied a hit in the game.

Both of Western Michigan's runs came in the third inning. Palmer started things off with her record-breaking hit up the middle. After a pair of fielder's choices, junior Kelsea Cichocki drew a two-out walk to give WMU runners at first and second. Junior Erin Binkowski put the Broncos on the board with an RBI double to center field and sophomore Gabby Schefka followed with an RBI single to right field. The two runs would be all the Broncos needed with Kus in the circle.

Kus totaled seven strikeouts, collecting K's on four of the final six outs of the game. She closed out the bottom of the seventh with two strikeouts to seal the Bronco victory. It was her 21st complete game of the season and fourth shutout

The Broncos are looking to repeat last year's performance of reaching the championship round from the one-loss bracket.