KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan softball offense exploded for 10 runs on 12 hits with one home run in a 10-2 rout of Ball State on Tuesday afternoon at Ebert Field. 
 
FINAL SCORE: Western Michigan 10, Ball State 2
LOCATION: Ebert Field (Kalamazoo, Mich.)  
RECORDS: Akron (18-15, 6-7 MAC) | Western Michigan (11-15, 5-2 MAC)
W: Rissa Bajusz (8-6) | L: Emma Eubank (1-2)

It was a career day at the plate for sophomore Payton Kelly who was a triple short of the cycle. Kelly went 3-for-3 at the plate with four RBIs, three runs scored, and a home run. Kelly belted a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning for the second home run of her career. The Chino Hills, Cali., native's three hits were a career-high along with her three runs.
 
Along with Kelly, Courtney Farrish recorded a three-hit game going 3-for-4 with two RBIs. The senior matched her career-high three hits set back on May 4, 2022, against Northern Illinois.
 
In the leadoff spot, junior Addison Hudson was 2-for-3 and registered a career-high four runs. Hudson leads the Broncos this season with a .403 batting average. Continuing her hot bat at the plate was fellow junior Haley Boxwell who went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Boxwell registers 16 hits and six RBIs on the season.
 
Cassidy Brendtke and Alyssa Kramer each went 1-for-3 at the plate. Kramer added a run in the bottom of the third to put WMU up 7-2. Rounding out the Bronco offense, Jessica Young and Haleigh Smith each tallied a run in the 10-2 victory.
 
In the circle, the Broncos got another great outing from right-handed junior Rissa Bajusz. Bajusz threw six innings, allowing just two hits, and claimed three strikeouts against the Cardinals. 
 
With the 10-2 victory Western Michigan improved its overall record to 12-16 overall and 6-4 in the Mid-American Conference. The Brown & Gold return to the field on Wednesday, April 12 to finish the MAC series with a doubleheader against Ball State starting at 1 pm.