AKRON, Ohio — No. 6 Western Michigan University (27-24) secured a 7–4 victory over No. 3 Miami University (Ohio) (38-17) in a neutral-site matchup at Firestone Stadium. The Broncos capitalized on a five-run fifth inning, including a home run, to take control of the game. The team recorded 10 hits and drew 8 walks, maintaining a steady offensive performance throughout the contest.
With this win, No. 6 Western Michigan moves on to play No. 2 Northern Illinois on Thursday, May 7 at 2:30 PM ET at Firestone Stadium in Akron.
Caitlin Tighe showcased her power for Western Michigan with a home run, contributing one hit and one RBI. Emily Lampela delivered a strong offensive performance, tallying three hits and driving in two runs while also scoring once and stealing a base. Jordan Smith was effective at the plate, recording two hits, including a double, and adding an RBI to her stat line. Ava Geyer pitched 6.1 innings, allowing four earned runs on eight hits, while striking out one and walking two, securing her 11th win of the season.
Miami featured strong performances from several key players. Leila Mathis stood out by contributing significantly with two RBIs and a home run. Mia Estrello also made her mark with a home run. Evey Dieudonne contributed with a double, adding an extra-base hit to the team's tally. On the pitching front, Lea Chevrier provided stability, pitching 2. 1 innings with two strikeouts, helping to manage the game's later stages. These athletes played crucial roles in the team's competition on Wednesday.
Postgame Quotes
Western Michigan head coach Marlee Wilson
"She (Ava Geyer) mixed speeds really well to keep them off balance, you know, when she gets some looking strikeouts in there earlier. I know I told you guys that earlier, but, she just really kept them off balance and kept changing planes. She did a good job with that.
"The discipline at the plate got us where we were in that inning, just really demanding the zone knowing that we deserve good pitches working for that. I think that's really been the goal for us when it happens, we've executed, trusting that plan."
