EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Western Michigan softball team set a new record for most home runs in a season on Tuesday night against Michigan State.

The Bronco offense had another big outing on Tuesday evening, recording 11 hits with a double, a triple, and two home runs. The home runs from senior infielder Jordan Smith and junior infielder Analeez Niles in the sixth inning set a new WMU program record at Secchia Stadium. The Brown and Gold now have 44 homers on the season, the most by any Western Michigan softball team.

But eight runs weren't enough for the Broncos to stay in the win column on Tuesday. Two big innings for the Michigan State Spartans at the beginning and end of the game gave MSU the 9-8 victory. Four separate WMU batters had two hits each in Niles, Smith, infielder Bella Duncan, and catcher Tristen Head. In the circle, freshman Ava Geyer had the longest outing for the Brown and Gold at 3.1 innings allowing five hits, four unearned runs, and two walks while striking out five batters, including the 100th strikeout of her season.

The Spartans had control of the game in the first inning on Tuesday at Secchia Stadium, retiring Western Michigan in order while also taking a four-run lead with two hits and an error. The 4-0 score held through the second inning until the Broncos broke the shutout in the top of the third. After Head reached base on a walk, outfielder Megan Malartsik hit a double to center field, giving Head enough time to score a run.

Duncan had WMU's second straight hit, putting Malartsik in scoring position at third. Malartsik scored in the next at-bat with a sacrifice fly from shortstop Caitlin Tighe. The Brown and Gold loaded the bases before the third was over, but didn't bring another run home in the inning. Western Michigan's defense locked in, taking down Michigan State in order.

The Broncos continued to hold MSU scoreless for four straight innings as the offense got hotter. WMU tied the game at four runs in the top of the fourth on a long single up the middle from Duncan as Head and infielder Hannah Herman scored. The Brown and Gold took their first lead of the game an inning later in the top of the fifth.

Outfielder Emily Lampela connected on her first triple in a Western Michigan uniform to lead off the fifth. Lampela was then brought home by Niles from a single down the right field line, making it a 5-4 Bronco lead. WMU added more runs in the top of the sixth after stranding a Spartan at third base to end the fifth.

Both of the Brown and Gold's home runs came in the sixth inning with two outs on the board. Smith hit her eighth home run of the season to tie the season program record at 43 homers. Two at-bats later, Niles had Western Michigan's 44^th home run, setting the new record for most home runs in a season with her sixth of the year. After Niles bomb to right center, the Broncos headed into the bottom of the sixth with a four-run advantage.

But Michigan State still had its best offensive inning in them with an explosive bottom of the sixth. MSU scored five runs on three hits, a walk, and a hit by pitch to take back a one-run lead. WMU was able to get a runner on base in the seventh as Head reached first on a Spartan error. But Head didn't make it past second base as the next two Brown and Gold batters struck out and lined out for the 9-8 final.

Western Michigan hosts its final home series of the 2026 season this weekend. The Broncos welcome the Northern Illinois Huskies to Ebert Field for their final season as conference opponents. WMU will also celebrate its four graduating seniors this weekend, Emily Yacapraro, Tristen Head, Jadeyn Merrill, and Haleigh Smith. The Brown and Gold's final home series will begin on Friday, April 24 at 3 p.m.