KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Western Michigan softball team closed out its 2019 home schedule on Tuesday, April 30 with non-conference doubleheader split versus Oakland University at Ebert Field.
The Broncos earned a 15-3 game one victory prior to the Golden Grizzlies bouncing back with a 7-2 victory in game two. The split moves the WMU's record to 17-24 overall.
Sophomore
Sydney Stefanick hit two homers in game one to break the Western Michigan single-season home run record. Her 12 homers on the year breaks the previous record of 11 set by
Aspen Williams (2018) and
Erin Binkowski (2016).
Western Michigan 15, Oakland 3 (5 inn.)
WMU tallied 14 hits while the Golden Grizzlies conceded four errors en route to the Broncos prevailing in five innings, their highest offensive output since an 18-run game at Akron on March 29.
Stefanick went 3-for-3 and tied a career-high with five runs batted in at the plate, notching home runs in her first two plate appearances to break the school record with her 11
th and 12
th round-trippers on the year. Additionally, Stefanick earned the win in the pitcher's circle, tossing three scoreless innings to improve her record to 9-8.
Down 3-2 after the second frame, the Brown & Gold stormed back to score seven runs in the third followed by six more in the fourth, leading to the win.
Five Broncos recorded multi-hit games, with Stefanick leading the way.
Mackenzie Swinehart and
Brooke Wyman registered 2 RBI each.
Oakland 7, Western Michigan 2
The Brown & Gold tallied seven hits and score two runs, but fell to Oakland 7-2.
Mackenzie Swinehart contributed to the Bronco offense, going 2-for-3 and scoring a run.
Stefanick and Sophie Ehlers both drove in a runs for WMU. Stefanick also delivered in the circle for the Broncos, throwing for three innings, allowing one hit, and sending three Golden Grizzles back to the dugout via strikeout.
WMU struck first in game two of the doubleheader, using a Stefanick single down the left field line to score Swinehart from second. Oakland would respond with two runs in the second and three in the third to take a 5-1 lead.
Jordan Kurth took the loss in the pitcher's circle.
Up Next
Western Michigan closes out the regular season with a Mid-American Conference series at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill. May 3-4, fighting to maintain a spot on the MAC playoffs.
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