Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 AKRON, Ohio – The Western Michigan softball team was able to win its first elimination tournament game to the fourth seeded Ohio Bobcats 7-6 on Saturday morning. But the team wasn't able to overcome the top seeded Akron Zips in the championship game in a 3-1 loss.

The Broncos completed their 2026 season with the program's longest run in the MAC Tournament since 2016. After putting together a stunning seventh inning rally to take down Ohio, WMU ended its year in the championship to Akron. Over the two games on Saturday, freshman Bella Duncan led the Brown and Gold offense with three hits, two RBIs, and a home run. In the circle, freshman Hannah Potts earned the decision in both games after pitching 11.2 innings, allowing 10 hits, eight runs, and striking out 13 batters for a 4.84 ERA.

No. 4 Ohio – Elimination Game
The Bronco bats took a moment to get going as they were taken down in order to start Saturday's game. Ohio scored the first run early after a lead-off triple was brought home on a ground out. To start the second center fielder Emily Lampela also had a lead off hit, but a single that landed just fair in right. She was soon at second on a passed ball and then went to third as left fielder Rylee O'Brien ground out to first.

WMU scored its first run of the game as designated player Analeez Niles put a ball over to right field that was dropped, letting Lampela tie the game. While the Brown and Gold's next batter struck out, third baseman Hannah Herman wasted no time in giving Western Michigan the lead with a double to left center. The Bobcats tied the game up after a swinging strikeout for Potts with a solo home run. But that was all Ohio scored in the second after loading the bases as Potts was able to strikeout the side.

It was a much quieter third inning for both sides as the Broncos again went down in order. The Bobcats had one hit and a fielder's choice in the bottom frame, but two grabs in foul territory quickly ended the inning. WMU put a runner on in the top of the fourth with a walk but didn't get any further. Ohio took a multiple run lead with three hits as runs scored on a single, a walk, and a bases loaded rundown.

The Bobcats led by multiple runs for only two at bats in the fifth inning. After giving up a lead-off walk to Herman, Duncan blasted her first home run in nine games well over the left field fence, making it a 5-4 game. Utility Jordan Smith added another hit for the Brown and Gold with her team-leading 14^th double but an out the next at-bat ended the offensive frame.

In the bottom of the fifth Ohio added another run on a passed ball after Western Michigan gave up two walks. But the Broncos quickly recovered with a strikeout from reliever Ava Geyer and an unassisted ground out to end the inning. WMU went down in order in the sixth while the Bobcats didn't add a run despite loading the bases with no outs on the board.

The Brown and Gold needed to score at least two in the top of the seventh to keep the game going. Western Michigan had a lead-off walk, a strikeout, and a single through the left side from Duncan to put runners at the corners. The Broncos tied the game up in the next at bat as shortstop Caitlin Tighe had her only hit of the game, an RBI double to center that scored Duncan and pinch runner Emily Yacapraro.

Tighe made it to third on the play as well as the throw to the infield went long to home. She then scored the winning run for WMU as Ohio's catcher wasn't able to handle a ball from pitcher Skipp Miller. Tighe took the passed ball opportunity to slide into home, making it 7-6 Western Michigan. One more member of the Brown and Gold reached base in the top half of the inning before the Bobcats were able to get the third out.

With only a one run lead, the Bronco defense locked in to try and get their first three straight outs of the game. The first two Ohio batters flew straight out to O'Brien who made both catches, including one near the warning track. MAC hitting leader Belle Hummel came up to the plate with the Bobcats last out, where Potts drew her into a ground out for the WMU victory. The Brown and Gold celebrated their win quickly as they had a championship game rematch with No. 1 Akron only 30 minutes later.

No. 1 Akron – Championship
Using the momentum from the comeback win earlier that day, Duncan had a lead-off single to right field. She would stay at first as the Zips got Western Michigan's next three batters out. Like the game the day prior, Akron had a similar inning to the Broncos, only getting one runner on before being left at first.

It continued to be a defensive battle from there as WMU didn't record another hit until the 7th inning. Both sides went down in order during the second inning. Then the Zips added their first hit in the third on a double down the right field line, having two runners in scoring position. A fly out to center ended the potential scoring threat from Akron in the third.

Unlike the game on Friday, the Zips struck first in Saturday's matchup. After a lead-off walk to start the bottom of the fourth, Akron's next batter hit a home run over left field to make it a 2-0 score. After the homer, the Brown and Gold defense had three straight outs, including back-to-back strikeouts from Potts. It was another fast inning in the fifth with three straight outs for Western Michigan followed by one hit and three outs for the Zips.

Akron added a third run in the sixth following a walk and two singles. The Broncos kept the Zips from scoring anymore as they took out the batter of the second single in a rundown at second. WMU then recorded its first hit since the first at bat of the game in the top of the seventh. Tighe had her only hit with a lead-off single to left field. Jordan Smith walked on the next at-bat, putting Tighe into scoring position.

The Brown and Gold then had two outs following the walk. But a throwing error on an pop up advanced Tighe to third base, setting Western Michigan up for another seventh inning comeback. Niles hit an RBI single through the left side, breaking Akron's shutout and making it a two run game. The Broncos were then able to load up the bases on a single from pinch hitter Jayden Merrill, also through the left side.

But on the next at bat, the Zips were able to get a ground out to first ending the game. WMU ends the 2026 MAC Tournament with a 3-2 record and an overall season record of 29-26. After the championship game, Duncan and Tighe were both named to the All-MAC Tournament Team for their performances over the Brown and Gold's five games.