KALAMAZOO — The Western Michigan softball team opens its Mid-American Conference schedule on Friday afternoon with a doubleheader against MAC West rival Central Michigan on Friday followed by a two-game series against another MAC West rival, Eastern Michigan, on Saturday and Sunday.

WMU battles Notre Dame and Michigan State on the road prior to this weekend’s home opener.

The Broncos will travel to South Bend, Ind. for a showdown with the Irish.  Notre Dame came to Kalamazoo a season ago, taking a doubleheader at Fran Ebert Field, and are currently receiving votes in both the NFCA and ESPN polls.  The Irish are 17-6 and 4-1 on the road thus far in 2011.

WMU has a quick turn around before getting back on a bus and heading to East Lansing, Mich., for a non-conference battle at Michigan State.  The Broncos hold the edge in the all-time series, 44-41-1, with the only tie coming in 1980.  The Spartans are 18-13 this season with all but three wins coming on a neutral field.  MSU is yet to play a game on its home field and won’t until the Broncos come to town.

Western Michigan split with Central Michigan to close out its 2010 season, falling 5-1 in the first game of a doubleheader before rallying for a 2-1 win.  The Broncos were 1-0-1 against EMU in 2010, defeating the Eagles 7-5 and then coming back from 6-0 down to take a 7-6 lead in the second game only for EMU to score in the bottom of the seventh, sending the game into extra innings.

The game was called in the top of the eighth due to lightning and rain, giving WMU its first tied result since 2001 against Michigan, 3-3.