ATHENS, Ohio – The Western Michigan softball team saw its six game win streak snapped after a 2-0 win and a 9-6 loss at Ohio University Saturday. In game one, senior pitcher Rissa Bajusz led the Broncos with seven strikeouts defensively, while junior Payton Kelly drove in two RBI offensively to lead the Brown and Gold to their sixth consecutive victory. In game two's defeat, Bajusz produced a game high three hits and tacked on two RBI.

Game One 

The Broncos shot off to a fast start in the first inning of game one Saturday, with Kelly drilling her third home run of the season. During her home run bomb, Kelly would score teammate Addison Hudson, who had reached base after an Ohio defensive error prior to Kelly's at bat. 

To snap the Broncos hitting drought, Haley Boxwell led off the top of the fourth inning by doubling down the right field line to start up the Bronco bats. After a WMU out, Megan Welsh singled and advanced to second base after pinch runner Emily Yacapraro was thrown out at home on the play. 
 
Later in the top of the seventh inning, sophomore Gabbie Evans would single down the right field line with two outs for the Brown and Gold's final hit of game one. Despite the sophomore catcher's hit, the Brown and Gold would record a third out before sending Evans home.

To close out the seventh and final inning, Bajusz limited the Bobcats to one single for the softball team's 23rd win of the season.  

Game Two 

In the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, the Broncos saw a 9-6 loss after eight innings to the Bobcats despite 10 hits from WMU throughout the contest. 

Through the first three innings of game two, the softball team was held to one hit. After a single from Bajusz in the top of the second inning, the Brown and Gold would see a base runner in Welsh, who reached first on a fielder's choice. Despite Bajusz and Welsh reaching base, the Broncos were unable to score. 

Eventually, Ohio would take a 1-0 lead after scoring the first run of game two in the bottom of the second inning. Facing a one-run deficit, WMU responded by scoring two runs in the top of the fourth inning to take the lead at 2-1 after 3.5 innings of play. In the top half of the fourth, Hudson and Kelly would reach base off back-to-back fielding errors to put two on and nobody out. Eventually, Boxwell walked and loaded the bases for Bajusz, who in turn doubled down the right field line to score the two base runners. Later in the inning, Welsh would reach base on a fielder's choice. Later, she and Bajusz advanced after a wild pitch to put two base runners in scoring position. Before scoring the two teammates, the Brown and Gold had recorded three outs to end the inning. 

During the top of the sixth inning, Kelly and Bajusz would reach base off of singles, while Evans reached base on an Ohio fielding error. The softball team capitalized on the Bobcat miscues and added an insurance run after O'Connor scored Kelly by singling to right field. Ohio responded during the bottom half of the inning and tied the game at three all as the game headed to the top of the seventh inning. 

To lead off the seventh, Brendtke singled to right field, and Riley Dittmar grounded out to advance Brendtke to second base. Immediately after, Hudson and Brendtke took advantage of a defensive fielding error, with Hudson reaching first base safely and Brendtke scoring on the play. Following Brendtke's run, Kelly and Boxwell singled to load the bases for Hailegh Smith. In turn, Smith continued the offensive attack and scored Hudson to give the Broncos a 5-3 lead. Eventually, the softball team took a 6-3 advantage entering the bottom of the seventh, after Taylor Garey walked with the bases loaded. 

As the Broncos moved onward in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs, Ohio hit a three-run home run to send the game into extra innings. Ohio would eventually take game two with a walk-off three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning, which snapped the Brown and Gold's six-game win streak. 


Rissa Bajusz Climbs Through The Ranks

With Bajusz's seven strikeouts in game one, she is now 10 k's from claiming the fifth most strikeouts by a Bronco in a single season. As of Saturday, Bajusz ranks third in the entire NCAA with 187 strikeouts and trails second place by 11 K's.

Historical Notes 

Dittmar and Kelly are on pace to become the first teammates since the 2021 season to have at least 50 hits each. After the conclusion of Saturday's doubleheader, both teammates have 41 hits apiece. 

Up Next

The Brown and Gold will conclude their road series against the Bobcats on Sunday, April 21, at 12:00 PM.