AKRON, Ohio – The Western Michigan University softball team knocked off its first opponent of the 2026 MAC Tournament 7-4 to remain in the winner's bracket.
The Broncos put together a complete game to kick off their MAC Tournament run on Wednesday afternoon, downing the Miami RedHawks 7-4. WMU put together a five-run fifth inning to open up the largest lead of the game after Miami tied the score on three separate occasions. The Brown and Gold hitters combined for 10 hits as outfielder
Emily Lampela led the way with three and two RBIs. While in the circle starter
Ava Geyer earned the win in 6.1 innings while junior
Casey Fazzini picked up her second save of 2026 in 0.2.
The Broncos scored in the first inning to take their first lead of the day. Freshman infielder
Bella Duncan led off the opening game with a single. She was brought home three at-bats later as Lampela had her first hit on a single to right field.
WMU had a walk to put two runners on base and recorded a third hit, but the final out came on the base paths to end the half inning. The RedHawks tied the game up in the bottom half of the inning as they were able to load the bases and put a sacrifice fly into center. Both teams had an identical second inning, not scoring a run but collecting a hit and stranding a runner.
The Brown and Gold retook the lead in the top of the third as shortstop
Caitlin Tighe hit her third home run in as many games to lead-off the inning. Utility
Jordan Smith added another multi-base hit after Tighe, fighting through a 12 pitch at bat to put a double into left center. But Western Michigan didn't bring another run home in the third with three straight outs after Lampela was hit by a pitch.
Miami had an identical start to the bottom of the third, putting a solo home run just inside the left field foul line. The Broncos defense kept the rest of the RedHawks lineup at bay for it to remain a 2-2 game going into the fourth. Both teams were blanked in the fourth inning with Miami connecting on the lone hit through nine at-bats between the two.
WMU retook the lead again in the top of the fifth inning as designated player
Analeez Niles had her fourth double of 2026 to score Lampela. The Brown and Gold were then walked in three straight at-bats taking the first multiple run advantage of the game. Western Michigan followed up the walks with a sacrifice fly from Duncan, extending its lead to three runs. The Broncos added one final run in the inning as they batted through the lineup and Lampela had her second single of the fifth to score right fielder
Megan Malartsik.
The WMU defense had its first three up and three down inning in the bottom half of the frame to keep its five-run lead into the sixth. The score remained 7-2 in the sixth as well as the Brown and Gold got two on base but left both stranded. The defense had another quick frame, taking the RedHawks down in order for a second time.
Smith had her second hit of the day in the seventh but was the only Western Michigan batter to connect in the final inning. The Bronco defense began the last half inning of the game with a quick out. But Miami cut down WMUs lead with three straight hits, including a two-run homer, making it 7-4. After the third hit, the Brown and Gold got two straight outs from the infield to earn their first MAC Tournament win since 2018.
Western Michigan now moves on to face the second seeded Northern Illinois Huskies on Thursday. During the regular season, NIU took two of three games from the Broncos at home on Fran Ebert Field. The two teams will start their postseason matchup at 2:30 p.m. on May 7.
