Game Stats

DeKALB, Ill. - Western Michigan improved to 8-2 in the Mid-American Conference and into second place alone in the West Division with its second shut out over Northern Illinois, 1-0, on Sunday afternoon.  The Broncos' Meghan Thomas captured her third conference win with a one-hit complete game shut out and drove in WMU's lone run of the game.

On a day when both teams combined for five hits, it was fitting that a pitcher drove in the game's decisive lone run of the game in the top of the sixth inning.  With two outs in the inning, Lexi Jager registered WMU's third base hit of the game and advanced to second base on a fielding error by NIU's right fielder.  Meredith Whitney drew a walk and was pinch ran for by Chelsea Westenburg.  Mandi Sayres earned the second base on balls of the inning to load the bases.  Thomas registered WMU's fourth and final base hit of the game, scoring Jager in the process.

Thomas allowed just one hit during her seven innings of work and it came early.  The Huskies collected their only base hit in the bottom of the first on a one-out base knock to center field.  The runner was stranded on first.  Northern Illinois managed to advance a base runner to second base only twice during the afternoon, both coming on sacrifice bunts.

Once the Broncos took a one-run lead in the second, NIU managed just two more base runners, both reaching on fielding errors in the sixth and seventh innings but Thomas was able to dispatch of the remaining batters to end the game.  Opposing batters hit .043 against Thomas this weekend.

Western Michigan evened its overall record at 14-14 and moved into second place alone in the MAC West standings after previously being tied with NIU coming into the weekend.  Ball State continues to lead the division with a conference record of 9-1.  The Broncos will continue its road trip on April 17-19 with a doubleheader at Miami and two games in Muncie, Ind., against the Cardinals.