KALAMAZOO, Mich. –  The Western Michigan softball dropped both games of a doubleheader against Mid-American Conference foe Kent State on Friday afternoon at Ebert Field. The Golden Flashes edged the opener 2-1 and took game two 11-4, stalling the late Bronco comeback. 
 
FINAL SCORE (G1): Kent State 2, Western Michigan 1
LOCATION: Ebert Field (Kalamazoo, Mich.)  
RECORDS: Kent State (11-27, 6-10 MAC) | Western Michigan (13-21, 7-8 MAC)
W: Macy Irelan (6-10) | L: Rissa Bajusz (9-10)

FINAL SCORE (G2): Kent State 11, Western Michigan 4
LOCATION:  Ebert Field (Kalamazoo, Mich.)  
RECORDS: Kent State (12-27, 7-10 MAC) | Western Michigan (13-22, 7-9 MAC)
W: Anilese Kelly (5-12) | L: Autumn Godwin (4-7)
 
The teams combined for 38 hits in both games, as the Broncos outhit KSU 20-18 to edge the Golden Flashes by one in each game. The Broncos led with an early run in the third inning, but the KSU was able to break even in the fifth and take the 2-1 lead in the sixth of game one. In game two, WMU also jumped out to an early lead, but again the Golden Flashes' offense was red-hot, helping Kent State erase the deficit. WMU fought their way back into it, never giving up the fight, but the Golden Flashes were able to hold on to the win despite four late WMU runs.
 
Kent State 2, Western Michigan 1
In the Bronco third, Payton Kelly reached base on a double to left center field. Next bat, Courtney Farrish delivered an RBI single to right field that scored Kelly, giving WMU an early 1-0 lead. 
 
The two teams went one scoreless inning before Kent State broke even, scoring the tying run in the fifth. KSU would add another in the sixth to seal the 2-1 victory. 
 
WMU finished with eight hits in game one, as Kelly went 3-for-4 with a double and a run while Haleigh Smith went 2-for-3 at bat. Courtney Farrish went 1-for-3 with an RBI and Alyssa Kramer matched 1-for-3, while Addison Hudson went 1-for-4.
 
Rissa Bajusz pitched a complete seven innings for the Brown & Gold. She allowed seven hits, two runs and registered 10 strikeouts. 
 
Kent State 11, Western Michigan 4
In game two, WMU jumped out to an early 1-0 as Kramer drove a leadoff double to center field, and Riley Chumbley joined with a single up the middle. Chumbley advanced on the KSU throw and Kramer scored to put the Broncos up. 
 
Kent State came back to score 10 runs in the third through the fifth inning. WMU scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to close the gap with the Golden Flashes. Smith drove in Madison Duell and Kelly on a double to left center field. With runners on first and third, Chumbley ripped another single through the right side to score Smith, 10-4.
 
WMU held KSU to one run in the last two innings but was unable to bring its needed runs across the plate.
 
Western Michigan had Autumn Godwin and Caitlyn Mullins in the circle for game two, Godwin threw 2.2 innings including two scoreless innings, and allowed five hits and six runs. Mullins went the distance with 4.1 innings and allowed six hits and five runs. Mullins tossed three strikeouts and two scoreless innings. 
 
Up next, WMU takes on Kent State tomorrow afternoon at Ebert Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 pm.