KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan softball team heads back on the road this week for a single game against the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame on Wednesday, March 22. The first pitch is set for 5 pm and will be available via ACC Network Extra and live stats.
NOTRE DAME (16-7 Overall)
The Irish enter the week on a four-game win streak. Before facing the Broncos on Wednesday, they face Miami on Tuesday. During their winning streak, they are outscoring their opponents 43-9.
Notre Dame is currently hitting .307, with 26 home runs and 33 doubles on the season. Infielder Lexi Orozco leads the team with 24 RBI and is tied with junior Karina Gaskins with a team-best six home runs. Gaskin leads the ACC and is second in the country with 24 walks drawn this season. She also has registered 19 hits and 13 RBI with a slugging percentage of .639. Cypress, Cali., native Carlli Kloss leads the Irish offensively with a .339 batting average, a team-best 20 runs scored, and 12 RBI. With eight doubles, one triple, and three home runs, Kloss has totaled 47 bases this season.
Notre Dame is led in the circle by Micaela Kastor, who has appeared in a team-high 15 contests and owns a 0.88 ERA across 39.2 innings. She has a 4-0 record and has also recorded three saves, which is tied for the most in the ACC and tied for eighth nationally. Kastor has held opponents to a .183 batting average.
WESTERN MICHIGAN (6-11 Overall)
Western Michigan has not played since March 11 due to the cancellation of last weekend's MAC-opening series against Buffalo.
Addison Hudson has started all 17 games this season for the Broncos and leads the team with a .465 batting average. She has registered 20 hits, five runs, and five runs batted in. Her .465 batting average leads the MAC and ranks 20th nationally. Senior
Courtney Farrish leads the Western Michigan offense with a team-best 10 RBI. St. Joseph, Mich., native has notched nine doubles to lead the MAC while ranking fifth nationally. Farrish is tied with
Haley Boxwell for the team lead with two home runs.
Alyssa Kramer has tallied a team-best 13 runs, 17 hits, six doubles, and seven RBI.
Western Michigan has been charged by
Rissa Bajusz, who posts a 3.10 ERA with a 3-3 record in 12 appearances and eight starts. Across 49.2 innings pitched, Bajusz has piled up 42 K's so far this season. On two complete games, she is holding hitters to a .251 average on the year.
Autumn Godwin provides posts a 3-4 record in 12 appearances and five starts. In 30.2 innings pitched, Godwin has recorded 16 strikeouts while holding batters to a .285 average.
ON DECK
Western Michigan begins Mid-American Conference play on March 28-29 with a three-game series versus the Falcons of Bowling Green. A single game on Tuesday, March 28 at 3 pm will start the series, followed by a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 29. Wednesday's first game is scheduled for 1 pm, capped by game two at 3 pm.
