ATHENS, Ohio -- Jordyn Swinehart's seventh-inning single and
Kaylen Glenfield's three-hit performance in the second game of the day helped the Western Michigan softball team split a doubleheader at Ohio on Friday afternoon. The host Bobcats took game one, 4-2, before the Broncos captured the night cap, 10-8.
The teams will conclude their four-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 27, starting at 1 p.m. ET.
| Game One
The big inning made the difference in the series opener, as Ohio scored all four runs in a single frame before holding on for the 4-2 win. The home half of the third inning saw the Bobcats get a pair of two-run doubles, first from Katie Yun and second from Annalia Paoli. Those would be the only runs surrendered by WMU starter
Rissa Bajusz, who took the loss while going the distance. The Bronco freshman surrendered five hits and four earned runs in six innings while striking out three.
Cassidy Brendtke and
Jordyn Swinehart were both 2-for-3 on the game.
The Broncos used a pair of one-run innings to stay in the game.
Courtney Farrish doubled home Bajusz in the fourth inning before Glenfield singled to score
Jordyn Swinehart in the fifth. The Broncos left a runner on in the sixth, but went three-up, three-down in the seventh. Ohio's Mackensie Kohl went the distance, scattering eight hits and allowing just two earned runs in seven innings of work. She struck out four Broncos and did not walk a batter.
| Game Two
Both offenses exploded in the night cap.
Kaylen Glenfield paced the Broncos with a 3-for-4 performance, adding two RBI and two runs scored.
Cassidy Brendtke and
Taylor Garey were both 2-for-3, with Garey adding and RBI and two runs scored.
Sydney Stefanick was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Jordyn Swinehart had two RBI, which proved to be the game-winners.
Head coach
Kathy Leitke turned to three pitchers to get the win.
Reily Galloway got the tart and allowed two earned runs and struck out three batters in 4.1 innings of work.
Autumn Godwin had a strikeout in two-thirds of an inning. Stefanick picked up the win with two innings of relief work, allowing three runs with a pair of strikeouts.
The Broncos jumped out to a 2-0 lead before Galloway took the circle. Sophia Elhers scored Glenfield with a single before
Courtney Farrish doubled home Ehlers. The Bobcats cut the lead in half in the second before WMU added single runs in the fourth and fifth. The fourth inning saw Garey single home
Alyssa Kramer, while
Mackenzie Swinehart scored on a throwing error when Glenfield stole second base.
The hosts took the lead with a three-run fifth inning that was extended by a Bronco error. Mikenzie Vaughn and Yun both delivered RBI doubles resulting in unearned runs scoring as Ohio held a 5-4 lead entering the sixth.
WMU responded in the sixth, as Brendtke scored on an error by the pitcher when Garey hit a come-backer. Glenfield then tripled to score
Mackenzie Swinehart and Garey and Stefanick singled home Glenfield, giving WMU an 8-5 lead. Ohio tied it in the sixth on a two-run single from Vaughn and RBI single from Paoli.
With the game tied 8-8 in the seventh, the Broncos scored the decisive blow. Brendtke got a one-out single before Bajsuz hit into a fielder's choice for the second out. Garey followed with a single before a wild pitch put runners on second and third.
Jordyn Swinehart then seved a single down the left field line, scoring both runs and putting WMU up, 10-8.
Ohio threatened in the bottom half, but a fly out ended the game with a pair of Bobcats on base.
| On Deck
The teams return for a doubleheader at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday to conclude the four-game series. Next week, the Broncos return home to Ebert Field for a four-game series with Buffalo.
