ATHENS, Ohio – The Western Michigan softball team concluded a three-game weekend series at Ohio University with a 7-4 loss Sunday afternoon. In the defeat, Payton Kelly and Haley Boxwell led the Brown and Gold by tying a game-high two hits.
WMU started off strong offensively during the top of the first inning by producing four base runners. To begin the inning, Addison Hudson led off the first with a walk and advanced to third immediately after, with the help of a sacrifice bunt from Kelly to put pressure on the Bobcat defense. Junior Riley Dittmar continued the hot start for the Brown and Gold and singled to left field to give the Broncos an early 1-0 lead. Despite a single from Boxwell and a walk from Taylor Garey, the Brown and Gold settled for one run in the first inning Sunday.
The Broncos would add to their lead in the top of the third inning after an electric start from Kelly, who led off the inning with a stand-up double. Immediately after Kelly's double, her teammate Dittmar hit a sacrifice and advanced the junior to third base. With two outs in the inning, senior pitcher Rissa Bajusz singled down the middle of the field and scored Kelly to improve the WMU lead to two in the top of the third.
Although the Brown and Gold favored a 2-0 lead entering the bottom of the third inning, Ohio would eventually take the lead after scoring seven unanswered runs in the bottom of the third, fourth, and fifth innings. Down to their last six outs in the top of the sixth inning, Boxwell led off the top of the sixth inning with a leadoff double and inserted herself into scoring position. Before WMU could score their base runner, the Broncos had recorded three outs and headed to the bottom of the sixth facing a five-run deficit.
After a scoreless bottom of the sixth inning from relief pitcher Kailey O'Connor and the Bronco defense, the Brown and Gold entered the seventh inning down five. After Ohio recorded the first WMU out of the inning, pinch hitter Elliot Sanders singled to left field to start up the Bronco offense. After an offensive substitution, which put Haleigh Smith on the base, Kelly willed the Brown and Gold within three runs after launching her fifth home run of the season. Despite her two-run bomb, the Brown and Gold recorded their final three outs to end the game.
Historical Notes
With her RBI single in the top of the first inning, Dittmar climbed into a four player tie for the 10th most RBI created in a single season with 27 on the year. After today's contest, the junior also inserted herself into a tie with Amanda Heckaman (2006) for the seventh most total bases accounted for in WMU softball single season history (68 total bases).
Additionally, with their three combined hits, Dittmar and Kelly are on pace to become the first pair of Bronco teammates since the 2021 season to total 50 hits each. The feat was last achieved during the 2021 season by Mackenzie Swinehart (66 hits) and Kaylen Glenfield (50 hits). Dittmar leads all Broncos with 43 hits this season, while Kelly follows right behind with 42.
Up Next
The Brown and Gold will return to Ebert Field for a pivotal three game series against the Toledo Rockets this weekend. As of Sunday afternoon, WMU trails the Toledo Rockets by 0.16 win percentage points for sole possession of the second seed in the Mid-American Conference standings. Game one will take place on Friday, April 26, at 3:00 PM for Senior Day. On Saturday, the softball team will play a doubleheader against the Rockets starting at 1:00 PM.
