BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Western Michigan University rallied late in Friday's (April 11) game, posting a 3-1 win over the Bowling Green State University softball team. The game, the opening contest of the teams' Mid-American Conference series, was held at Meserve Field.

The Falcons (13-25, 5-9 MAC) scored a run without benefit of a hit in the first inning, and thwarted numerous WMU scoring threats over the first five frames. But, the Broncos (11-26, 5-7 MAC) broke through with two runs in the sixth inning, then added an insurance tally in the seventh.

Kaylee Salyer allowed just two hits in her complete-game win in the circle. She walked three Falcons in the first inning, but issued just one walk the rest of the way.

Mackenzie Krafcik took the loss despite allowing just one earned run in six and one-third innings of work. The junior walked one batter and struck out two.
 

Gallery: (4-11-2025) 041125 sb v WMU - Drake Harlett

BGSU-WMU – HOW IT HAPPENED
• Mackenzie Krafcik needed just eight pitches to get through the first inning, setting down the Broncos in order. Then, despite allowing a hit in the second inning, she retired the side on just five pitches.
• Meanwhile, the Falcons took the lead against Kaylee Salyer in the home half of the first. Taylor Behrendt led off with a walk, and Hannah Hunt also drew a base on balls with one down. The next hitter, Cameron Kaufman, earned BG's third free pass, and Ava McKee's grounder scored Behrendt from third with the game's first run.
• BGSU turned unconventional double plays in both the third and fourth innings to keep Western off of the scoreboard. In the third, Caitlin Tighe led off with a single, but with one out, Riley Dittmar hit a soft liner that was caught by shortstop Kaufman. Tighe, who was running on the play, was easily doubled off first by Kaufman to end the inning.
• In the Falcons' half of the third, Addie Martin walked with one out and stole second. Hunt drove a ball to right, but Yacapraro made a nice catch to possibly save a run. Martin tagged and went to third on the play, but was stranded there.
• In the Bronco fourth, Tristen Head led off with a single, and Jordan Smith's double down the left-field line put runners at second and third with no outs. Jadeyn Merrill then hit a fly ball to left, where Kendall Mathews made the catch, then fired a strike to the plate. Catcher McKee put the tag on Head for the out at the plate, and Krafcik then got Payton Kelly to hit an inning-ending ground ball to second.
• In the fifth, Analeez Niles led off with a single, and Micaela Booth followed with a flare that ticked off the top of leaping second baseman Hunt's glove. But, after the back-to-back hits, Krafcik set down the next three Broncos. Tighe popped up a bunt that was caught by first baseman Behrendt, Yacapraro struck out and Dittmar hit a grounder to second for the third out.
• The Falcons, who had led for nearly the entire game, still didn't have a hit, but Behrendt lined a ball to center for a two-out, no-doubt single in the home half of the fifth. Then, Martin drove a ball to center, but it was caught at the edge of the warning track.
• Western finally got on the board in the sixth. Jordan Smith reached on a one-out error, and after left fielder Mathews made a nice running catch in foul ground, Kelly singled and Niles walked to load the bases. Booth came through with a two-out single to center that plated a pair of teammates.
• In the seventh, the Broncos tacked on another run, as several Western batters reached base via the hit-by-pitch route. Niles was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force home a run and give WMU a two-run advantage before Salyer worked a 1-2-3 half-inning to seal the win.
• Booth, Head and Niles each had two hits for the visitors. Niles was 2-for-2 with a walk and an RBI in the win.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons and Broncos will return to Meserve Field for a Saturday (April 11) doubleheader. First pitch of the first game is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

• It will be a busy day at Meserve Field, as the Falcons will recognize the four seniors in the program – Scarlet Anderson, Ellie Price, Wynnie Reid and Madi Young – in Senior Day ceremonies that will begin at approximately 12:30 p.m.

• Saturday will also be Alumnae Day, with numerous former Falcon greats in attendance. The alums will be recognized between games.

• And, for BGSU student-athletes, Saturday is a Meserve Cup event.

FOLLOW THE FALCONS
• For more information on BGSU softball, follow the Falcons on Twitter/X (@BGAthletics and @BGSUSoftball) and Instagram (@bgsu_softball) as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.