AMHERST, Mass. -- The Western Michigan softball team makes the program's first trip to the northeast in over 14 years this weekend.

LAST TIME OUT 
Western Michigan wasn't able to slow down a red-hot Notre Dame Fighting Irish offense in an 11-3 loss on Tuesday night. The Broncos added two more home runs to their season total in their midweek matchup. But it wasn't enough to overcome a four run deficit after a single inning to Notre Dame at Melissa Cook Stadium. In a contest that experienced 85 minutes of lightning delays, WMU's offense wasn't able to match the Fighting Irish's season-high 11 runs. 

The Brown and Gold connected on five hits over five innings, all coming from separate players in the lineup. Junior shortstop Caitlin Tighe and senior designated player Jordan Smith recorded the three RBIs with a home run each in the first three innings of the game. In the circle, Western Michigan used four pitchers with freshman Hannah Potts taking the loss in 0.1 innings pitched.

HOME RUN STREAKS
The Broncos have now hit at least one home run in three-straight games going to their 4-3 win over Akron on Saturday afternoon. WMU's longest streak of games with at least one home run came early in the season as the Brown and Gold had five straight games with a homer. Those five games came from Feb. 7 to Feb. 13 in games against Morehead State, Presbyterian, Le Moyne, Jacksonville State, and South Alabama. 

Western Michigan is currently averaging a home run a game for third in the Mid-American Conference behind Ohio (1.32) and Miami (1.30) The Broncos are ranked 75th in the nation in home runs per game while the Bobcats are 40th with the RedHawks right behind at 41st. WMU is currently on pace to hit 50 home runs in 2026, which would be a program record after the 2025 roster matched the current record with 41 long balls. 

SCHEDULING TOUGH
Over halfway through the 2026 season, the Brown and Gold have one of the harder schedules in the country. Among 308 Division I softball programs, Western Michigan is in the top third of programs in strength of schedule/toughest schedule. The Broncos lead all MAC teams in toughest schedule at 101 with a .530 win percentage over past opposition. In-state rival Central Michigan is right behind WMU at 103 while Akron rounds out the top three teams in the conference at 106. 

SERIES HISTORY
The Brown and Gold are traveling over 800 miles to UMass for a three game series this weekend. Friday afternoon's game will be the third meeting between Western Michigan and the Minutewomen but the first contest at either team's home field. The programs have met twice before at neutral tournaments in 2013 (USF Under Armour Showcase) and 2019 (USF Series). The Broncos have won both past games in Florida with a 12-10 and a 6-5 extra innings result. 

WMU has not played a game as a program in the northeast in 14 years prior to this weekend. The Brown and Gold were last out near UMass home field for the Delaware Spring Invitational hosted by the Blue Hens from March 17 to March 18 in 2012. Western Michigan had a strong showing in the area, taking three of four games at the tournament in Newark, including a 6-3 victory over the hosts. 

SCOUTING THE MINUTEWOMEN
Massachusetts played its first home game of the year earlier this week, taking a 9-1 win from Dartmouth. The Minutewomen are 10-19 overall on the season while being 2-7 in conference play. UMass' MAC wins came over the past two weeks after dropping being swept by Kent State to start conference action. The Minutewomen's two wins were their second run-rule win of 2026 at Northern Illinois 11-2, and the first game of the series against Toledo 7-6 on March 20. 

UMass' offensive leader is by far and away junior infielder Odyssey Torres. Torres is the only Minutewoman batting above .400 with a .406 average in 26 games on 28 hits. The junior has 16 multi-base hits this season with 11 doubles for third in the MAC. She has also been named the MAC Player of the Week twice this season on Feb. 17 and March 24. In the circle, junior Hannah Streicher is UMass workhorse, leading the pitching staff with 89.1 innings pitched, a 5-8 record, a 4.23 ERA, and 47 batters struck out.