WMU vs. NIU Game Stats - Game 1
WMU vs. NIU Game Stats - Game 2
DeKALB, Ill. - The Western Michigan softball team split its two-game series at Northern Illinois on Saturday afternoon at Mary M. Bell Field. Meredith Whitney pitched a 1-hit complete-game shutout in the opener and hit her her first home run of the season to give the Broncos a 1-0 win. WMU fell in the second game, 8-4.
Whitney led off the top of the second inning with her solo shot over the left field wall. It was her first home run of the year and seventh of her career. That surge of offense was all the Broncos needed with the sophomore in the circle. This was her ninth complete game of the 2010 season and first solo shutout, giving her seven in her young career.
Whitney ended up pitching in both games, working four innings in the Broncos' 8-4 loss later in the afternoon. Her six strikeouts in game one and five punch outs in game two give her 293 for her career, moving her into fifth place on the WMU career list. She passed Krysten Shumaker (2005-06) who amassed 289 Ks in two seasons with the Broncos.
Gracie Barstad was on her game offensively, going 4-for-6 at the plate and scoring a run. She was 2-for-2 in WMU's victory and went 2-for-4 in the nightcap. Also registering a multi-hit game on Saturday was Jenn Tschetter who went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs in game two.
Tschetter drove in her first run of the game in the bottom of the second on a double to left field, allowing WMU to tie the score at two runs apiece. The Broncos opened the scoring with an unearned run in the top of the first. Northern Illinois recaptured the lead with home run to center field in the bottom of the third.
Western Michigan tied the score with two runs in the fourth. Courtney Rousseau singled to left field and Chelsea Westenburg reached on an error. Both advanced a base on Sarah Thomas' ground out. Rousseau scored on a passed ball and Westenburg was brought home by Tschetter's base knock back up the middle.
The Huskies scored four runs, two in the bottom of the fifth and sixth, respectively. The Broncos would go down without a fight, loading the bases in the top of the seventh. Tschetter led off with a base hit and Barstad followed with a single of her own. After a pair of strikeouts, Michelle Bendewald singled to left field. The threat ended when Diana Patterson grounded out to second base, preserving the win for NIU.
