Softball | May 05, 2018

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 KALAMAZOO, Mich.- The Western Michigan softball team took both games of Saturday's doubleheader against Eastern Michigan, winning this weekend's three-game Mid-American Conference series two games to one. The Broncos held off the Eagles 3-2 in game one and closed out the afternoon with a 2-0 victory. WMU finishes the regular season with a 28-23 overall and 14-10 conference record.

The Broncos will be the No. 5 seed in the upcoming double-elimination MAC Tournament, which begins Wednesday, May 9, and concludes with the championship round on Saturday, May 12. WMU will play the opening game of the tournament on Wednesday against No. 4 seeded Kent State at 10:30 a.m. at Firestone Stadium in Akron Ohio.

Playing their final games in Kalamazoo, WMU honored its five seniors - Geordin Craun, Aspen Williams, Holly VanTilburg, Anissa Sanchez and Marlee Wilson - prior to game one of the doubleheader against EMU. With the two wins Saturday, the 2018 senior class has now totaled 100 victories over the past four seasons.

Freshman pitcher Sydney Stefanick (6-6) earned the win in a relief effort in game one, holding EMU scoreless and to just two hits over the final three innings. Stefanick returned to the circle and picked up the save in game two, entering the contest with two outs and a runner on third in the sixth inning. Stefanick threw a total of 4.1 innings on the day without giving up a run. She struck out six and allowed just three hits.

Anissa Sanchez (6-8) started game two and was credited with the win. She tossed 5.2 innings and scattered four hits in the combined shutout.

GAME ONE:
Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan each scored a run in the first inning. Sophomore Mackenzie Swinehart singled and later scored on a sac fly by junior Skyler Sobeski for WMU. An RBI double by redshirt senior Marlee Wilson gave Western Michigan a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second. It was her ninth double of the season.

Eastern Michigan tied the game in the fifth inning. WMU scored the winning run in the bottom of the sixth. Junior Jenna Faultersack hit a double, sophomore Kaylen Glenfield laid down a sacrifice bunt and senior pinch runner Geordin Craun scored on an RBI single by Aspen Williams.

GAME TWO:
WMU took a 1-0 lead in the third inning and added an insurance run in the sixth for the 2-0 victory. Senior Marlee Wilson drew a walk in the third and junior Courtney Sleeman doubled to right center to give WMU runners at second and third. Senior Geordin Craun collected her first hit of the season with an RBI single to shallow left field to give WMU a 1-0 lead.

Junior Brooke Wyman led off the bottom of the sixth with a walk and stole second base. She scored on a two-out single from junior Erin Barg.

Eastern Michigan finishes out the year with an 11-39 overall record and a 6-16 mark in MAC play. Saturday was the final games for the Eastern Michigan softball program, as softball was announced as one of four sports dropped by the University this past spring.