JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – The Western Michigan softball team concluded action at the 2023 JSU Gamecock Invite splitting a pair of games on Saturday. The Broncos took down the Bulldogs of Samford, 10-1, in game one before wrapping up the weekend with a 9-1 loss to Jacksonville State.
 
Game one saw the Broncos take a 10-1 decision from Samford University. Three Broncos registered a pair of RBIs including Alyssa Kramer, Courtney Farrish, and Cassidy Brendtke. 
 
Western Michigan totaled 10 hits and 10 runs with nine runs batted in against the Bulldogs. Brendtke led WMU offensively going a solid 3-for-3 at-bat to add two RBIs. Kramer went a perfect 2-for-2 at-bat to add two RBIs and Taylor Garey went a perfect 1-for-1 to score a single RBI. Addison Hudson went 2-for-3 at-bat, while Farrish and Bella Gerlach each went 1-for-2. 
 
The Broncos opened up the lead in the first after a pair of walks and a single RBI to put WMU in a promising scoring situation with bases loaded. Two runs were scored on a wild pitch and a throwing error just two frames later to give WMU the 4-0 lead in the first. 
 
WMU added a pair of runs in the second off a double down the left-field line by Farrish to bring home Hudson and Kramer. Kramer followed suit in the third with a double to left center to reign in another set of runs. A lone run from Samford in the third broke the WMU shutout heading into the fourth.
 
Brendtke doubled to left field to get on base and send Haley Boxwell home in the fourth. Taylor Garey's single RBI sealed the deal for the Broncos, to send Brendtke home and increase the lead to 10-1. 
 
Junior Rissa Bajusz got the start in the circle for game two against Samford and allowed five earned runs and one strikeout in two innings of work. Autumn Godwin tossed 3.2 frames and allowed three earned runs before Madysyn Lopez closed the rematch and allowed one earned run. 
 
Western Michigan tallied eight hits in game two and one RBI. Addison Hudson went 3-for-3 at-bat, followed by Haleigh Smith who went 2-for-2, and Brendtke who went 1-for-2. Kramer and Chumbley both went 1-for-3 at bat. 
 
The Broncos trailed 3-0 after the second inning and were left searching for home plate in the fourth and fifth. JSU added a pair in the third and a solo run in the fourth to make a 6-0 Gamecock lead heading into the fifth. 
 
Western Michigan broke through in the top of the fifth on a double to left field by Smith. In the next frame, Kramer recorded an RBI single to score Smith. WMU threatened JSU with loaded bases in the fifth but were turned away to leave two runners on base. Jacksonville State added a trio of runs in the sixth to take the game, 9-1.