Head Coach Marlee Wilson Sets Program Record as Softball Team Sweeps Kent State

KENT, Ohio – The Western Michigan softball team completed its series sweep over Kent State after defeating the Golden Flashes Sunday 8-2. In the win, nine Broncos recorded a hit, while pitcher Rissa Bajusz notched 12 strikeouts. 

After the completion of three scoreless innings, the Brown and Gold saw the game's first run after three Broncos reached base. To begin the top of the fourth inning, Payton Kelly hit a leadoff single via a bunt and Haley Boxwell followed by reaching base after a Kent State defensive error. With two on and nobody out, Bajusz would launch a flyout to center field, which in turn scored Kelly, to give the Broncos a 1-0 edge over the Golden Flashes. Graduate student Megan Welsh followed by reaching on a fielder's choice, however, the Broncos would record three outs before adding to the one-run lead.

During the bottom of the fourth, Kent State responded with one run to tie the game up after converting on a two-out triple. To shift the momentum back to the Broncos, WMU used a two-run fifth inning to create separation from the Golden Flashes. During the top half of the fifth inning, Riley Dittmar launched her third home run of the season and scored herself along with Elliot Sanders, to give the Brown and Gold a 3-1 lead. 

Kent State would battle back again and saw its second run in the bottom of the fifth inning. To create further separation between the two teams, WMU used a four-hit sixth inning to their advantage and piled on five runs to take a commanding 8-2 lead. To power up the Bronco offense, Bajusz and Welsh hit back-to-back doubles to put two on and nobody out for Hailegh Smith. With Smith up to bat, she hit a groundout and advanced Bajusz home and Welsh to third to extend the Bronco lead. Immediately following Smith's at-bat, Cassidy Brendtke launched a double to left center field and scored Welsh. Later, Kelly reached base on a defensive throwing error, which scored Brendkte and brought Boxwell up to the plate with two outs. Holding a four-run lead, Boxwell singled to center field and drove in Kailey O'Connor and Addison Hudson to improve the softball team's lead to six. 

In the circle, Bajusz cruised in the sixth and seventh innings after forcing Kent State into six consecutive outs to conclude the game. 


Historical Notes  

After defeating Kent State, head coach Marlee Wilson set the program record for the most wins by a first-year head coach with the WMU softball team with 20 victories and counting. The record was previously held by Monica Folske (1986) for almost 40 years. 

In the circle, Bajusz's 12 strikeouts improved her total on the year to 166 which is the seventh most strikeouts recorded in a single season for the Brown and Gold. Bajusz now owns the seventh (166 strikeouts) and eighth (163 strikeouts) most-recorded strikeouts in a single season for the WMU softball program. Over her career, the senior has posted 466 punchouts, which ranks 41st nationally as of Sunday afternoon. 

Up Next 

The Brown and Gold will return to Ebert Field Tuesday versus Northern Illinois at Ebert Field for Taco Tuesday. At the game a walking taco stand will be available for fans. First pitch is slated for 1:00 PM and game two will follow at 3:00 PM.