KALAMAZOO, Mich. –  The Western Michigan softball team hosts the Mastodons of Purdue Fort Wayne for a single contest at Ebert Field. The Tuesday single game is set for 2:30 pm and will be available via Broncos All-Access and Live Stats. 
 
PURDUE FORT WAYNE (10-18 Overall)
Purdue Fort Wayne enters Tuesday's play on a five-game winning streak with a three-game series sweep under their belt, having defeated Detroit Mercy with scores of 5-2, 10-0, and 8-1. The series sweep improves their overall record to 10-18. 

Grace Hollopeter has been a powerhouse at the plate, boasting a team-leading batting average of .363. She has played in every game this season and has recorded 29 hits, including three doubles, one triple, and four home runs. Hollopeter has also driven in 15 runs and has an on-base percentage of .395. Meanwhile, Taryn Jenkins has been a steady contributor for the Mastodons, leading the team in doubles with eight and boasting a solid batting average of .338. Jenkins has racked up 27 hits, three home runs, and a team-high 16 RBIs, while also leading the team with an on-base percentage of .411.

Purdue Fort Wayne's pitching has been solid this season, with Alanah Jones and Alyson Quinlan leading the way. Jones has been a workhorse for the team, pitching an impressive 92 innings and posting a 4.89 ERA in 17 appearances and 14 starts, while striking out 90 batters and holding opponents to a .263 batting average. Quinlan has also made valuable contributions, with a 3.96 ERA in 12 appearances and seven starts and striking out 44 batters in 50 innings pitched. Together, the two have helped anchor the team's pitching staff. Gracie Brinkerhoff has pitched 35.1 innings for Purdue Fort Wayne this season, with a 5.35 ERA and a 3-3 record in 11 games and five starts. She has allowed 43 hits and registered 22 strikeouts, holding opponents to a .297 batting average.
 
WESTERN MICHIGAN (10-13 Overall) 
Western Michigan enters Tuesday's play after a weekend split in their doubleheader with Miami. Despite losing the first game in an 11-0 defeat, they rebounded in the second game with a hard-fought 2-1 win. With a current record of 10-13 on the season, WMU looks to build on its recent win and improve its overall performance.

The WMU softball team has a strong offense led by Addison Hudson, who boasts an impressive .426 batting average, 26 hits, and nine RBIs with a team-high on-base percentage of .470. Courtney Farrish is a standout player for the Broncos with a batting average of .339. She leads the team with nine doubles and has added two home runs on the season, resulting in a team-high 12 RBIs and a slugging percentage of .581. Alyssa Kramer contributes significantly to the team's offense with a .338 batting average. With 23 hits including six doubles and a home run, Kramer has batted in 10 runs this season. 

Rissa Bajusz played a key role in the circle for WMU in last week's play. Bajusz appeared in five games, including three starts, pitching for a total of 22.1 innings and recording a 2.01 ERA. She allowed only 12 hits and five runs while striking out an impressive 25 batters. Against BGSU, Bajusz retired seven out of eight batters, including five strikeouts, to collect a save in game one. She then pitched a scoreless 6.1 innings with 10 strikeouts in the second game followed by a complete game (5 Innings) in the third to help WMU claim the sweep. Against Miami, Bajusz again threw a complete game (7 Innings) allowing just four hits and one earned run while posting six strikeouts to claim a 2-1 victory. 
 
ON DECK 
The Western Michigan softball team gears up for a three-game series on the road against the University of Akron. The first game is scheduled for Friday, April 7th at 3 pm and will be followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, April 8th starting at 1 pm.