KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan softball returns home for the final time this season to square off against the visiting Ohio Bobcats on April 29-30. Saturday's doubleheader is set to begin at 1 pm, while Sunday's single game is scheduled for noon. 
 
GAME INFORMATION:
Saturday, Apr. 29
1 pm – Watch Live | Live Stats 
3 pm – Watch Live | Live Stats 

Sunday, Apr. 30
12 pm – Watch Live | Live Stats
 
SENIOR DAY
Help us celebrate Senior Day on Saturday, April 29th! Be sure to arrive early as the team will kick off their doubleheader with a senior celebration to honor six Broncos: Mikayla Barnard, Courtney Farrish, Maddie Duell, Alyssa Kramer, Autumn Godwin, and Natalie Shuey. It is a time to celebrate their accomplishments as they prepare to move on to the next chapter of their lives!
 
ALUMNI DAY
Attention all softball alumni! Mark your calendars for Sunday, April 30th, as we celebrate Alumni Day! Come back to the field, catch up, reconnect with the softball community, and show your Bronco pride. We would love to have you there to share your experiences and memories, and to create new ones. We can't wait to see you there! 
 
OHIO (26-19 Overall, 16-7 MAC)
Ohio comes to Kalamazoo following a 2-1 series victory over the Toledo Rockets, the Bobcats won game one on Tuesday, 2-1 before falling in Saturday's doubleheader opener 3-11. Ohio drew a 10-9 win in the finale to close and take the series.
 
In the batters' box this season, senior catcher/ infielder Alexis Dawe leads the Bobcats' batting efforts, hitting .355 with 43 hits, 16 runs, five doubles, two triples and doubles each, and 24 runs batted in. Annalia Paoli leads Ohio with 41 RBI on 50 hits, including a team-best 11 doubles, two triples, and a team-high 9 homers. 
 
As a unit, the Bobcats bat .294 in 45 contests to register 230 runs and a total of 212 runs batted in on 351 hits, including 55 doubles, 15 triples, and 28 home runs. 
 
In terms of pitching, Ohio has leaned on Skipp Miller, who posts a 13-10 record on the year in 29 appearances and 23 starts across 148.1 innings tossed. In addition to 15 complete games and two shutouts, Miller has registered 101 strikeouts and posts an earned run average of 2.78.
 
WESTERN MICHIGAN (16-23 Overall, 10-10 MAC)
The Broncos enter this weekend's matchup after a nail-biting 2-1 series victory over the Huskies of Northern Illinois on the road. Western Michigan edged a 7-6 victory in game one on Tuesday and scrapped for a 5-4 victory in game two. WMU fell 4-8 in its final game of the series after late-inning runs by the Huskies overpowered a fifth-inning Bronco lead. 
 
Hudson leads the Broncos in the batter's box, posting a .358 average with 38 hits, 9 RBI, 19 runs scored, and two doubles. Payton Kelly continues to move up the WMU offense as she provides a consistent bat for Western Michigan. Kelly hits .340 with 33 hits, three homers, a team-best 20 RBI, 18 runs scored, and a slugging percentage of .515 on the year. 
 
Junior infielders Courtney Farrish and Alyssa Kramer add some power to the WMU coaching staff. Farrish enters the weekend batting .313 with three home runs, a tied team-high 35 hits, 18 RBI, and seven runs scored to go along with a .491 slugging percentage. Kramer contributes a .304 average with a tied team-high 35 hits in 115 at-bats. She has registered 18 runs batted in, a team-high 21 runs scored, and three homers. 
 
In the circle, Western Michigan has been ushered by Rissa Bajusz, who will face off against the Bobcats with a 2.95 ERA and a 12-10 record in 31 appearances and 19 starts. Across 142.1 innings pitched, the junior has tossed 141 strikes so far this season, which is good for fifth in the MAC and 56th nationally. She also ranks third in the MAC for strikeouts per seven innings with 7.1 to rank 125th nationally. 
 
Senior Autumn Godwin provides a solid option at pitcher as well, in 25 appearances and 15 starts, Godwin has worded 62.2 innings and has recorded 30 punch-outs.
 
ON DECK 
Western Michigan heads on the road during its last week of regular season play, first heading to Ann Arbor, Michigan taking on the Wolverines of U of M on Tuesday, May 2. The single game is set for a 6 pm start. The Broncos continue on the road on May 5-6 with a three-game series to conclude regular season MAC play against the Toledo Rockets. The two teams will face each other in a single game on Friday at 3 pm, followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, starting at 1 pm.