Softball | May 10, 2018

Box Score AKRON, Ohio- The No. 5 seeded Western Michigan softball team defeated No. 8 seed Miami in the elimination bracket of the 2018 Mid-American Conference Tournament. The Broncos will go on to face the loser of Thursday evening's matchup between No. 3 Toledo and No. 7 Northern Illinois, Friday morning at 10:30 a.m.

Western Michigan senior Aspen Williams hit an RBI double and a solo home run in the Broncos' victory over the RedHawks. The home run was her 11th of the season, tying the school single-season record set by Erin Binkowski in 2016. It was also Williams' 21st career home run, moving her into second place all-time at Western Michigan.

Freshman pitcher Sydney Stefanick (7-6) started the game and went six strong innings. Miami's lone run off of Stefanick was in the top of the fourth after a Bronco fielding error in the leadoff at bat and was unearned. Stefanick scattered seven hits, walked two and struck out one. Junior Jordan Kurth threw the final inning for WMU and earned her second save of the season. 

The Broncos put two runs on the board in the second inning and added two more in the bottom of the fourth.

Kaylen Glenfield drew a leadoff walk in the second inning and moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt. She scored on the RBI double by Williams. In the next at bat Marlee Wilson singled up the middle and Williams was able to score from second after a fielding error in center field.

Williams led off the bottom of the fourth with the solo home run to extend WMU's lead to 3-1. With two outs, Mackenzie Swinehart and Brooke Wyman hit back-to-back singles and freshman Samantha Coffel followed with an RBI double to push the Bronco advantage to 4-1. Miami made a pitching change from there and WMU was held without a hit the rest of the game.

Williams finished the day 2-for-3 at the plate. Coffel was 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles. She now has 15 doubles on the season, tying for second most in a WMU single-season.

With its second loss of the tournament, Miami was eliminated and finishes the season at 24-25 on the year. The Broncos (29-24) will be in a win or go home situation the rest of the tournament after suffering a 3-2 loss to No. 4 seed Kent State in the opening round Wednesday.