TEMPE, Ariz. - The Western Michigan softball team dropped a 13-6 decision to Tennessee on Sunday in the Broncos' final game at the Kajikawa Classic. WMU battled through four innings against the 12th-ranked Volunteers, racking up 12 hits, including back-to-back innings with two runs off four hits.
The contest will not be counted as an official game because NCAA ruling requires the umpire "to declare 'no game' if play is terminated before each team has completed five innings, or if a halted game of less than five innings is not resumed." The teams were still in the bottom of the fourth, but halted at 1:30 p.m. to accommodate Western Michigan's travel schedule for the return to Michigan.
Mackenzie Swinehart,
Sydney Stefanick and
Cari Padula led the Bronco offensive charge with three hits each. Swinehart went three-for-three at the plate, making her way around the bases three times. Padula likewise went three-for-three with a career-high four runs batted in. Stefanick totaled three hits and made an appearance in the circle.
Kaylen Glenfield and starting pitcher Reilly Galloway each collected a hit, Galloway with a solo home run in the second inning.
In the circle versus the Volunteers, Galloway started and threw for 2.1 innings, allowing seven runs off five hits and striking out three batters. Stefanick and freshman
Autumn Godwin also made appearances, Stefanick allowing five runs in 0.2 innings and Godwin coming in for the final inning, surrendering one run from three hits.
The Broncos took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first off a single from Padula with Swinehart and Stefanick on base, quickly followed up by a single to right field from
Courtney Farrish to bring Padula around.
Tennessee responded with its own offensive spark, scoring a trio of runs off two hits in the top fo the second. WMU was able to come back with Galloway's home run and another run for Swinehart, assisted by hits from Stefanick and Padula, to take the score to 4-3 Western Michigan.
Tennessee tallied ten runs in the final two innings, five in the third and five in the fourth. Stefanick came in to the circle halfway through the third inning after two runs were scored off Galloway, but allowed two walks and three more runs before closing out the inning. Western Michigan was left scoreless in the bottom half of the third nd trailed 8-4 entering the fourth.
After another five runs by the Volunteers made it 13-4, but the Broncos rallied in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 13-6 affair.
Alyssa Kramer started out the inning with a single out to center field. Padula hit her final shot of the night, an RBI double to bring home Stefanick and Swinehart.
The contest was then called as it headed to the fifth.
Western Michigan finishes the Kajikawa Classic with a 1-3 mark, and travels to Tennessee for the Bruin Challenge on February 14, hosted by Belmont University. The tournament begins on Friday and runs through Sunday, February 16 as the Broncos take on Belmont, Northern Kentucky, and Green Bay.
