EL PASO, Texas – The Western Michigan softball team saw its comeback fall short due to time constraints against Monmouth University Sunday in a 8-6 loss after five innings.Payton Kelly led all players with a game high three hits, while Haley Boxwell produced a game best three RBI's in the loss. 

The Brown and Gold found themselves in a deficit early after conceding five runs over the first three innings of Sunday's contest. The Broncos found their footing in the top of the fourth inning and eventually reclaimed the lead after recording four hits, which scored a game-best six runs. 

Haleigh Smith became the first base runner for the Broncos after starting the fourth inning after being hit by a pitch to advance to first. Following her at bat, Cassidy Brendtke would single and advanced Smith to second to put two on and nobody out for WMU. Eventually, Taylor Wolfe grounded out, scored Smith, and advanced Brendtke to second, which gave the Broncos their first run of the afternoon.

 After a single by Addison Hudson and a walk by Riley Dittmar, Kelly made contact and drove in a run for the Brown and Gold for their second run of the inning. Firing on all cylinders offensively, Hudson would score on a wild pitch to give WMU their second run of the inning, while Rissa Bajusz walked to load the bases. Riding the offensive momentum, Boxwell doubled to center field, scoring all three base runners. 

At the conclusion of the inning, the Brown and Gold had clawed back and led 6-5. WMU had an opportunity to add more to their lead after Smith reached base, and Boxwell advanced to third after a defensive error by Monmouth. However, the Monmouth defense halted the scoring surge in the fourth and the Broncos settled for six runs in the inning. 

At the bottom of the fourth inning Monmouth would respond by scoring three runs of their own to take a 8-6 lead over the Brown and Gold. Down two runs in the top of the fifth, Dittmar and Kelly were able to secure hits, however, the Broncos were unable to drive in their two base runners before receiving three outs in the inning. 

Due to time constraints of the tournament, the softball team did not play in the sixth and seventh innings Sunday. In a near comeback effort WMU dropped its concluding match of the UTEP Tournament against Monmouth by two runs. 

Dittmar's Hot Start 

Junior transfer Dittmar (Eastern Illinois) has been on fire after batting a scorching 0.667 average for the Brown and Gold. Today, Dittmar picked up two hits and improved her total to eight over her first five games of the 2024 campaign. Her eight hits set a career best start through her first five games played of any season.

Historical Notes

This weekend at the UTEP Memorial Tournament, Bajusz became the eighth Bronco in program history to surpass 300 strikeouts and has accumulated 314 career strikeouts (and counting). Over her first 16.1 innings pitched thus far, Bajusz has recorded 23 strikeouts, marking a career best strikeout rate to start a season. 

Up Next

The Brown and Gold will begin play next at the Tennessee State Invitational on Friday, February 16. The Broncos will play Indiana State at 11:00 AM ET and UT Martin at 3:00 PM ET.