KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Western Michigan softball team took two of three games from the Toledo Rockets while celebrating the program's 50th season.

The Broncos won the final two games of their series against Toledo to win their fifth Mid-American Conference series of the season. After dropping a close game one 8-7, WMU bounced back to take the second game of Friday's doubleheader 2-0. The Brown and Gold then took the series on Saturday afternoon with an 8-3 victory powered by senior Jordan Smith's two home runs.

Through the series, Smith led Western Michigan's offense with a .600 batting average with six hits, three multi-base hits, 7 RBIs, and a 1.300 slugging percentage. She was closely followed by junior outfielder Emily Lampela, who batted .556 with five hits, two doubles, a home run, three RBIs, and a 1.111 slugging percentage. In the circle, freshman Ava Geyer led all four Bronco pitchers with a 2-0 record in two games started, including a complete game on Friday. Geyer had a team-low 1.27 ERA, allowing only two runs in 11.0 innings pitched while striking out eight batters.

Game 1
WMU got the series off to a strong start with a lead-off solo home run from infielder Bella Duncan. But the Brown and Gold only led for the half inning as the Rockets responded with a big second inning. Western Michigan fell behind 5-1 after Toledo had two hits and two errors to take the lead in the second. The Broncos didn't quit though, getting the game back within a run in the bottom half of the inning. Three hits from Smith, and infielders Hannah Herman and Caitlin Tighe along with a hit by pitch helped WMU score three more runs for a 5-4 game

The Rockets were able to respond again, scoring another run to take a two-run advantage. The two run deficit then became a three run deficit in the top of the fifth with another score from Toledo. The Brown and Gold were able to get it back down to a one-run game again in the bottom of the fifth as Duncan put an RBI single into center field to score Herman and outfielder Rylee O'Brien.

Western Michigan tied the game in the sixth as a lead off double from Smith became the seventh Bronco run on a Lampela single to left. But WMU wasn't able to hang on in the seventh inning as the Rockets scored their eighth and final run of the game to take the series opener 8-7.

Game 2
Toledo didn't remain in the series lead for long as the Brown and Gold quickly bounced back in the second game of the day. Powered by a complete game shutout from Geyer in the circle, Western Michigan scored two runs on seven hits in the series tying victory. The Broncos got their first hit in the second inning and were primed to score in the third as they loaded the bases. But a fielder's choice out at home followed by a double play kept it a scoreless game through three.

WMU ended the 0-0 deadlock in the fourth as the bottom of the inning began with a single from designated player Analeez Niles. The Brown and Gold scored their opening run shortly after as Lampela had a long double to left center, bringing pinch runner Haleigh Smith home. Lampela brought in the second and final run of the game for Western Michigan as well. In the bottom of the sixth, Lampela hit her third home run of the year for the 2-0 win.

Game 3
The Broncos closed out the weekend with a strong offensive performance on Saturday.