Game Stats
DeKALB, Ill. - Western Michigan benefited from a big opening inning to take the first of two games at Northern Illinois this weekend, 4-0. Lexi Jager hit her 11th career home run to move into a tie for second all-time at WMU and Meredith Whitney collected her 10th win in the circle this season.
The Broncos wasted no time in taking control of Saturday's game at Mary M. Bell Field, scoring three runs in the top of the first. Jager scored a pair, going 2-for-4 on the day, with her sixth home run of the year to score herself and Michelle Bendewald who had reached on a walk one batter earlier. Starting pitcher Whitney singled to follow Jager and Mandi Sayres doubled in the freshman for the Broncos' third run of the frame.
NIU led off the bottom of the second inning with a single but the next three batters went down in order as Whitney fanned six on the day to improve to 10-6 on the year and a perfect 5-0 in Mid-American Conference play. The duo of Jager and Whitney combined again for a WMU score in the top of the third as Jager tripled to right center field and Whitney followed with an RBI-single. The Scottsdale, Ariz., native was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a run scored and an RBI to help out her own cause.
The Huskies managed a one-out base it in the bottom of the third but that was their last attempt at a threat to cut into Western Michigan's lead as Whitney scattered just two hits and walked just one batter throughout the seven innings.
The Broncos and NIU will conclude their two-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m. (CT), 2 p.m. (ET). The game can be followed via GameTracker by going to the WMU softball schedule page and clicking the link that corresponds with April 12 game.
