CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Western Michigan softball team began its three-day stint at the Clearwater Spring Break Invitational on Friday, falling to Robert Morris 4-3 and UT-Chattanooga by a 3-1 margin.
The Broncos lost a close battle to Robert Morris to kick off the tournament. Western Michigan took a 1-0 lead in the first inning off an RBI single to center field from
Samantha Coffel to score
Kaylen Glenfield, who had reached with a single to right field. WMU extended its advantage to 3-0 in the bottom of the second. Maggie Peters reached first on an error by the RMU shortstop and
Emma Nuyen advanced Peters to second after being hit by a pitch. Both runners scored during an inning that was plagued by errors for the Colonials.
Robert Morris first scored in the fourth inning with an RBI double to bring in a runner. The Broncos ran into trouble in the sixth with back-to-back singles followed by an RBI double by Madison Riggle, tying the tie the game at 3-3. Riggle scored with another double to give the Colonials a 4-3 advantage. WMU sent
Autumn Godwin to the circle to end the inning.
Despite rally hits in the seventh inning from Glenfield and
Sydney Stefanick, the Broncos were unable to pull off the comeback.
Junior Reilly Galloway took the loss with four runs allowed off eight hits. She struck out three batters. Godwin pitched the final two innings, holding off extra runs from the Colonials and striking out one.
Robert Morris had nine hits in Friday's game, while the Broncos had seven. Stefanick went three-for-four at the plate. Coffel's hit gave WMU its sole earned run, while Glenfield recorded two hits and a run.
Western Michigan came up short against UT Chattanooga in the afternoon game. The Mocs drew first blood with an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth, and extended their lead in the bottom of the fifth with a single down the right field line that delivered a run. With the bases loaded in the same inning, Chattanooga was able score another after an error by the Broncos' second baseman to take the 3-0 lead.
WMU got its run in the top of the sixth. With one out,
Alyssa Kramer reached on a dropped throw by the first baseman and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Stefanick came up to hit a deep single to left, bringing around Kramer. The Mocs were able to contain the threat from the Broncos with five consecutive outs to seal the victory.
Stefanick, Kramer and
Cari Padula recorded Western Michigan's hits during the game.
Sydney Stefanick was strong in the circle, throwing a complete game with seven scattered hits, four strikeouts and a walk.
Western Michigan plays on in Clearwater tomorrow, taking on Providence College for a 9 a.m. game and Florida A&M at 2 p.m. at the Eddie C. Moore softball complex.
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