OXFORD, Ohio – The Western Michigan softball team dropped games one and two in their Saturday doubleheader at the Miami Redhawks. In game one, the Broncos lost 16-2 and in game two the Brown and Gold lost to the Redhawks 12-4. 

Game One 

During game one of Saturday's doubleheader, the Brown and Gold were led by Payton Kelly and Riley Chumbley. Kelly would record the lone hit for WMU in game one during the top of the second inning off of a single. Following Kelly's hit, Cassidy Brendtke reached base on a fielder's choice, while Kelly advanced to second and eventually made her way to third after a defensive throwing error by Miami. Later in the inning, with two outs and Chumbley up to bat as a pinch hitter, she would reach base on a fielder's choice. During the play, Dittmar advanced to second, Taylor Garey advanced to third, and Brendtke scored to bring the Broncos within one at 3-2. 

After scoring their second run of the day, the Brown and Gold were held hitless for the remainder of game one.  

Game Two
 
In the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, the softball team was led by graduate student Megan Welsh, who tied a game-high with three hits (one being a home run) and added one RBI. The Brown and Gold would strike first in game two after scoring two runs in the top of the first inning Saturday afternoon. During the inning, Addison Hudson reached base on a sacrifice bunt and was able to reach third base after a defensive throwing error by Miami. As a result of the error, Hudson would advance to third and Dittmar would score to add to the Bronco lead. At the conclusion of the top of the first, the Brown and Gold led the Redhawks 2-0.

In response to WMU's two runs in the first inning, Miami scored six runs in the bottom of the first to take a 6-2 lead over the softball team. The Broncos would battle back in the top of the second scoring a run after a homerun from Garey. Garey's homer would mark the first of her career and the Brown and Gold would head to the bottom of the second with a three-run deficit. 

The Redhawks would respond with three runs each in the bottom of the second and third innings to take a 12-3 lead over the Broncos. 

Later during the top of the fifth inning, WMU would score their final run of the day after Welsh bombed a homerun past left center field. Welsh's homerun would mark her third hit of game two, which tied her career high for the most hits that she has accumulated in a single game.

Historical Notes

With her home run in game two, Welsh improved her season total to five home runs. Now, Welsh needs one more home run to tie for the seventh most home runs hit for the WMU softball program during a single season.  

Up Next

The Brown and Gold will travel to Rochester, Michigan, to face Oakland University on Tuesday, March 19, at 4:00 PM.