With winter sports wrapping up around the country, spring sports are in bloom with the first weekend of Mid-American softball action. Just one weekend in, the MAC is looking as competitive as ever.
Western Michigan vs Miami (OH) (March 13 and 14)
In a battle of home-run bombs, the Broncos (10-12, 1-2 MAC) bucked the 2025 MAC champion RedHawks (20-5, 2-1 MAC) in the first of a three-game series on Friday.
In the fifth inning, Miami (OH) was up 4-0, looking dominant, until Western Michigan third baseman Anna Niles put her stamp on the game with a grand slam. Alongside a sac fly by Rylee O’Brien, the Broncos shifted the tide leading 5-4.
From then on, Western Michigan never let the RedHawks take the lead again scoring three more runs through two innings to take the first MAC game of 2026 from the former champs 8-6.
The game started off strong for Miami (OH) with a Katy Olive two-run blast in the top of the first inning. Olive had multiple home runs on the day, with a solo shot in the seventh inning as well.
The RedHawks took the series by sweeping a doubleheader on Saturday, warming up to MAC play as the conference’s tournament champion five years in a row.
Bowling Green vs Central Michigan (March 14)
In a hard-fought pitchers’ duel, the Falcons (13-7, 1-2 MAC) walked off the Chippewas (11-11, 2-1 MAC) in style to start off MACtion in the first game of doubleheader on Saturday.
Starters for both teams pitched sensationally, with Bowling Green’s Mackenzie Krafcik pitching seven innings of three-hit baseball with no runs allowed in under 100 pitches thrown.
Central Michigan starter Langen Mackenzie pitched 6.2 innings, allowing only two hits and collecting seven strikeouts.
Neither team could score through six and a half innings. Then, in the bottom of the seventh inning, with a runner on third, right fielder Peyton Steffes hit a fly ball to left field. The ball was caught, and Jilliyn Gardner rushed to home plate safely to secure the walk-off for the Falcons.
The Chippewas won the next two games of the series, winning 7-4 in the second game on Saturday and then 8-2 on Sunday.
Akron vs Ball State (March 13-14)
The Zips (11-16, 3-0 MAC) shut out the Cardinals (11-10, 0-3 MAC) with a thrilling seventh-inning stop in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday.
Akron scored only one run in the top of the seventh inning off the bat of Haley Glass, hitting an RBI single. That was all the offense the Zips needed, as their defense stunned Ball State to end the game.
In the bottom half of the seventh inning, Macy Walters, the Akron starter, was trying to close out a complete game shutout. With one out, the Cardinals loaded the bases on two singles and a walk. With Maia Pietrzac, the leadoff woman up to bat, Ball State was in good standing to take the lead.
Pietrzac hit a line drive right at the shortstop, Delaney Jenkinson, who caught it and threw the ball to third base to catch the runner, Jordyn Thurman, who took too far of a lead.
With a splendid 6-5 double play, the Zips swept the Cardinals and began their 2026 MAC schedule by beating a team voted one spot above them in the preseason poll.
In the first game of the doubleheader, Akron won 5-3, with all runs coming in the fourth inning for the Zips. Madie Jamrog, the Akron starter, pitched all seven innings of the game, allowing only three runs and collecting three strikeouts. The Zips started the sweep with a blistering offensive performance on Friday, winning 18-6.
Other Notable MAC Results
Northern Illinois opens the flood gates on Buffalo in 16-8 win on Saturday. The Huskies (8-7, 2-1 MAC) won the series 2-1, scoring 40 total runs on the Bulls (8-16, 1-2 MAC).
Ohio beat Toledo 10-6 on Sunday, but the Rockets took the series with a win Saturday and in the second game of Sunday’s doubleheader.
MAC Standings Update
At the end of week one in MAC play, Kent State and Akron are the only teams undefeated in conference play. Ball State and the Massachusetts softball team are the only winless programs in MAC play.
Alex Polyak can be reached at [email protected] and followed on X @AlexDPolyak.
