BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Western Michigan softball team split Sunday's doubleheader against University at Buffalo. After losing 3-0 in game one, the Brown and Gold bounced back with a 1-0 victory behind Kailey O'Connor's complete game shutout performance.  

Game One

During game one Sunday, the Brown and Gold were limited to four hits and saw a lone walk from Taylor Garey in the loss.

In the first inning, Haley Boxwell would record a one-out single for the Brown and Gold, however, the Broncos were unable to bring her home before recording three outs to end the inning. Later on, in the top of the second, Payton Kelly would hit a leadoff single to begin the inning. However, WMU would see three consecutive outs. In the bottom half of the inning, senior pitcher Rissa Bajusz would strike out two batters to maintain the 0-0 deadlock. 

Later, during the bottom of the third inning, the Bulls would break the tie by scoring three runs to take a 3-0 lead over the Brown and Gold. Over the next three innings, the Broncos were unable to reach base until Garey walked with one out in the top of the seventh inning. Despite Garey's walk, WMU saw two straight outs to conclude game one's action.  

Game Two

WMU bounced back with a 1-0 shutout victory over the Bulls in game two after O'Connor locked down the Buffalo offense by allowing a mere two hits. O'Connor would also lead all players by producing a game-high two hits. 

Neither team would gain a sizeable momentum throughout the contest, as both teams combined for a total of seven hits in the game. Welsh managed to record a hit in the second inning for a single, while O'Connor singled to lead off the third inning for WMU. In both instances, the Broncos were unable to score their base runner. 

Later in the game, O'Connor would collect her second hit of the day during the top of the fifth. Despite O'Connor reaching base, the Broncos saw three outs before O'Connor reached home.  

WMU's moment would come in the top of the sixth, as they would score the game-winning run with the help of two hits in the inning. Riley Dittmar led off the sixth with a single and Addison Hudson would advance the junior to second with a sacrifice. After Kelly singled, Dittmar advanced to third and was in prime scoring position for WMU. With Boxwell up to bat, she grounded out and advanced Kelly to second while scoring Dittmar in the process.  Dittmar's run would prove to be the game-winner Sunday, and the Broncos were able to pick up their first Mid-American Conference victory and snap their losing skid in the process. 

Historical Notes

Bajusz, now with 393 strikeouts on her career resume, is three punch outs from passing both Jennifer Vanover (1996-99, 395 strikeouts) and Laura Stewert (2001-04, 395 strikeouts) to claim the fifth most career strikeouts recorded in program history.  

Up Next

The Brown and Gold will travel to Rochester, Michigan, to face the Oakland Grizzlies on Tuesday, March 26, at 4:00 PM.