FLORENCE, Ala. – The Western Michigan softball team concluded its non-conference series with North Alabama on Sunday afternoon and dropped the series finale, 8-3.
FINAL SCORE: North Alabama 8, Western Michigan 3
LOCATION: Hilda B. Andreson (Florence, Ala.)
RECORDS: North Alabama (13-1) | Western Michigan (5-7)
W: Mairyn Waterman (1-0)
| L: Madysyn Lopez (0-2)
Western Michigan totaled seven hits on the day and three runs.
Alyssa Kramer,
Courtney Farrish, and
Riley Chumbley each collected an RBI for the Broncos in the effort.
WMU's seven hits were registered by six different Broncos, including Chumbley with two hits and Kramer, Farrish,
Haley Boxwell,
Bella Gerlach, and
Taylor Wolfe each with one.
Madysyn Lopez allowed four earned runs in 2.2 innings of work.
Rissa Bajusz threw 3.1 innings, allowing four earned runs and notching five strikeouts.
The Broncos jumped ahead 2-0 in the top of the first. Kramer smashed a double and
Addison Hudson walked to set up a promising situation for WMU.
Payton Kelly reached base on a fielder's choice, advancing Kramer to third, before stealing second. Kramer scored and Kelly advanced to third on a groundout. Chumbley then delivered a single to bring Kelly home. A groundout ended the frame with the Broncos in front, 2-0.
UNA tied it at 2-2 in the bottom of the first on triples by Felicity Fame and Hailey Jones and an RBI single by Georgia Land.
The Broncos went back on top, 3-2, in the second inning. Boxwell hit a single to start the rally, followed by a walk by Gerlach. Wolfe rang in another single to load the bases. On a groundout, pinch runner
Natalie Shuey scored. WMU grounded out once more to end the inning with two runners on base.
WMU held UNA scoreless in the bottom of the second with a quick three outs, including two grounded outs and one fly out.
North Alabama went on top to stay with three runs in the third and added another three in the fourth.
Up next for the Broncos is a single game against the University of Alabama on Tuesday, March 7th at Rhoads Stadium. The first pitch is set for 7 pm with streaming available via ESPN+, as well as live stats and a radio broadcast.
