KALAMAZOO, Mich.- The Western Michigan softball team concluded the regular season with a pair of wins Saturday, sweeping a Mid-American Conference doubleheader against Ball State. The Broncos took game one 8-2 and won a 2-1 thriller in game two.

Saturday marked the final home games for WMU seniors Erin Binkowski, Kelsea Cichocki, Ivy Schaaf and Abby Stoner. WMU (23-27, 11-13 MAC) will now await the results of other league games scheduled for Sunday to find out if the Broncos have earned one of the final eight bids into the upcoming MAC Tournament.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES: (DH totals)
Brooke Wyman: 3-for-5, 2 HR, 2 RBIs
Mackenzie Swinehart: 3-for-5, 3B, 2B
Kelsea Cichocki: 3 RBI, HR
Aspen Williams: HR
Erin Binkowski: 2-for-2 pinch hitting, 2B
Holly VanTilburg & Anissa Sanchez: CG pitching victories

GAME ONE:
Five of WMU's first eight hits in game one were for extra bases. Ball State took an early 1-0 lead after a home run in the top of the first, but WMU fired back with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Freshman Mackenzie Swinehart hit her second career double and in the next at bat, Cichocki launched her ninth home run of the season. It was also Cichocki's 20th career home run, making her one of just four Broncos to reach the 20 home run milestone in school history.

Ball State knotted the game at 2-2 off a single and an RBI double in the third only to have WMU storm back again in the bottom half of the inning. Western Michigan scored five runs on four hits and a walk, pulling ahead 7-2. Swinehart led off with a double and scored on an RBI single by Cichocki. Stoner then walked and Marlee Wilson drove in two with a double. Brooke Wyman capped the inning with a solo home run to left center. Wyman homered for a second time in the game in the fifth with a solo shot to left.

Junior Holly VanTilburg improved her pitching record to 6-3 on the season, hurling her fourth complete game. She allowed just four hits, two walks and struck out one.

GAME TWO:
Ball State and WMU traded home runs in the fourth inning and the Broncos used a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the sixth to earn a 2-1 victory. Maddy Labrador went deep for the Cardinals and WMU's Aspen Williams tied the score with her seventh home run of season.

The game moved into the sixth inning tied, 1-1, and WMU took advantage of a leadoff single and shaky Ball State pitching. Erin Binkowski stepped in as a pinch hitter and lined a single to left field. Jenna Faultersack came in to pinch run and with one away, Aspen Williams and Brooke Wyman were able to draw walks to load the bases. A pop out gave the Broncos a second out before Erin Barg worked the count for a bases-loaded walk, collecting the game-winning RBI.

Junior Anissa Sanchez struck out three and scattered six hits over her sixth complete game of the season, improving her record to 8-7.