NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A pair of dramatic comebacks highlighted the Western Michigan softball team's split on Saturday at day two of the Bruin Challenge inside Rose Park. The Broncos trailed 6-1 to Northern Kentucky before tying the first game at 6-6 in the fourth inning. WMU ultimately fell 7-6 in eight innings in the opener. The second game had Western Michigan trail 5-1 and 6-2 to host Belmont before a four-run breakout in the top of the seventh led to an 8-6 victory.
Leading the WMU offensive charge on Saturday was Sydney Stefanick, who went three-for-three with two runs scored in the opener and had another hit and run scored in the second tilt. Kaylen Glenfield exploded against Belmont with three hits, three RBI and two runs scored while Cari Padula tallied two hits, two runs batted in and one scored against Belmont.
In the opener against the Norse, the Broncos jumped ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the first with bases loaded hit by pitch that forced in Emma Nuyen, who had reached on a one-out single to left center.
Northern Kentucky (2-0) stormed back in the top of the second with six runs to take a 6-1 advantage. After a pop out started the frame, a Taylor Hoover home run to left knotted the game at 1-1. Consecutive singles from Toree Stalter and Kailey Rossiter followed and a third single, this one up the middle from Tatum Biddle, plated both for a 3-1 Norse lead. Following a groundout, NKU added three more runs with two outs on an RBI single from Alexis McDaniel and two-run triple from Ava Lawson. A groundout ended the frame.
WMU rallied to make it just a 6-4 deficit with a run in the bottom of the second and then a pair in the bottom of the third. Alyssa Kramer's solo home run to start the bottom of the second made it a four-run contest. The Broncos started the bottom of the third with a single, Northern Kentucky fielding error and single to load the bases. Courtney Farrish walked to force in a run and a Padula groundout brought another home. Another walk refilled the bases, but a fielder's choice and fly out ended the threat.
The Broncos completed the rally to even the score at 6-6 in the bottom of the fourth with two runs. Nuyen started the comeback with a leadoff walk. A Stefanick single to right center moved Nuyen to third before a double steal brought in Nuyen. Stefanick, who moved to second on the double steal, advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt and came home on a sacrifice fly from Samantha Coffel to knot the score.
Both teams went quietly and the score remained deadlocked at 6-6, forcing extra innings. In the eighth, with the international tie breaker rule in place, the Norse scored the deciding run. Starting with Stalter on second, she advanced to third on a groundout. Following a strikeout, a two-out error brought in Stalter.
In the bottom of the eighth, Bronco pinch runner Morgan Amarante started on second and moved to third on a groundout, but was left stranded after a strikeout and lineout.
In the second contest, Belmont (1-1) scored five runs in the bottom of the first to go up 5-1. The Broncos had scored in the top of the first on a Glenfield sacrifice fly that plated Mackenzie Swinehart, who had led off the game with a bunt single and moved to third on a Stafanick double. The Bruins answered in the bottom of the frame with two-run doubles from Molly Porter and Georgia McKee. Their fifth run of the inning came in on a fielding error.
Western Michigan got a run back in the top of the fourth to trail 5-2. A Padula single delivered Glenfield, who singled to start the frame, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Belmont answered immediately with a run in the bottom of the inning to regain its four-run cushion at 6-2. Audrey Lyle singled to right center with two outs and drove in Elison Ollinger, who started the inning with a single before stealing second and third.
Continuing to stay in the fight, the Broncos added two runs in the top of the fifth to cut the Bruin lead to 6-4. With two outs and Madison Duell on first following a leadoff walk, a fielding error on a Stafanick grounder extended the inning and put runners on first and second. Glenfield and Coffel delivered consecutive singles to plate the pair.
After going down in order in the sixth, Western added one in the top of the seventh and had the tying runner on second when the last out was recorded. Swineheart led off the seventh with a double to right center and came home on a two-out double to center from Glenfield. A walk to Coffel put runners on first and second with two outs before Padua came up with a single to left that scored Glenfield and advanced Coffel to third. Kramer followed with the game-deciding blow, a two-run double to left center.
Godwin got the leadoff out in the bottom of the seventh before a double and walk put runners on first and second. Godwin rebounded with a fielder's choice and groundout to end the game and strand the pair.
In the circle, Autumn Godwin lasted the first 1.1 innings against Northern Kentucky, surrendering four runs on five hits. Stefanick (1-2) came in for the last 6.2 innings, yielding three runs, two earned, on nine hits and four strikeouts to take the loss. In the second game, Stefanick went the first four innings, allowing six runs, four earned, on six hits, a walk and three whiffs. Godwin (1-1) relieved and gave up just one hit and a walk in three innings to pick up the win.
The Broncos (2-6) wrap up the Bruin Invitational with a 10 a.m. contest versus Green Bay.
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