KENT, Ohio – Western Michigan softball emerged victorious this afternoon in the series opener against Kent State, squeaking out a 1-0 victory behind enemy lines. The win boosts WMU to 18-29 on the season, and 8-13 against MAC opposition.
The game got off to a slow start offensively, as neither team could muster much in terms of run support for the initial five innings of play. The Broncos threatened in the top of the fourth as junior catcher
Courtney Farrish singled up the middle to begin the inning.
Junior infielder
Alyssa Kramer reached on a fielder's choice, advancing senior pinch-runner
Maggie Kehoe to second. A good sacrifice bunt from sophomore infielder
Cassidy Brendtke put WMU in striking distance, but the Kent State defense held up to record the final two outs of the Bronco half.
Western Michigan was able to crack the scoreboard two innings later in the top of the sixth.
Alyssa Kramer dug in and shot a double into right center field to give WMU some life with two away.
Cassidy Brendtke stepped in the next at-bat and laced a scorcher off the glove of the KSU third baseman, sending Kramer to third.
Before the play ended, a throwing error by the defense opened up an opportunity for Brendtke to move to second while Kramer came home to cross the plate, putting the Broncos up 1-0 with an inning and a half to go.
That would end up being the difference as senior pitcher
Reily Galloway took care of business in the circle for all seven innings, shutting down a KSU comeback effort and fanning a total of nine Golden Flashes. Galloway was dialed in on the bump once again, giving up just two hits on the day while earning her 12
th win of the year over a mere 89 pitches thrown.
Cassidy Brendtke finished the day 1-2, singling in the top half of the second in addition to forcing the Kent State defense's hand late, ultimately ending in a run for WMU. Junior outfielder
Natalie Shuey,
Alyssa Kramer, and
Courtney Farrish each went 1-3 on the day themselves, with Kramer also serving as the game's lone run.
The two teams will square off for a pair of games tomorrow afternoon, with the first slated to begin at 1 p.m. Both games will have a live stream and scoring available, and links for both games can be found below:
Game 1 Stream
Game 2 Stream
Live Scoring (Both Games)
#LetsRide
