KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Western Michigan softball team returns to Mid-American Conference play with a four-game series at Northern Illinois set for Friday, April 9-Sunday, April 11.
Due to expected inclement weather in the DeKalb, Illinois, area on Saturday, the teams have altered the original schedule. The Broncos and Huskies will open with a doubleheader on Friday, April 9, starting at 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT. The sides will then attempt to play Saturday, April 10, at Noon ET/11 a.m. CT, while concluding the series on Sunday, April 11, at 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT. If Saturday's weather prevents the teams from playing, Sunday's game will become a doubleheader.
| Scouting the Broncos
Western Michigan (8-18, 4-8 MAC) is coming off a midweek setback at Notre Dame and a four-game split with Buffalo in its most recent conference action.
Sydney Stefanick and
Mackenzie Swinehart pace the Broncos at the plate. Stefanick leads the team with a .391 batting average and ranks sixth in the MAC with a .488 on-base percentage. Swinehart is third on the team with a .366 average and she leads the league in runs scored with 25. They both rank among the top-10 in the league in home runs. Swinehart's five slot her fourth, while Stefanick's four are 10th. In the circle,
Reily Galloway leads the team with three victories, while Stefanick and
Autumn Godwin each have a pair of wins, as well. Bronco pitching has struck out 113 batters this year.
| Scouting the Huskies
Northern Illinois (8-19, 3-9 MAC) will host WMU coming off a 6-5 loss to DePaul in non-conference action this week and having lost three-of four to Toledo a week ago in MAC play. Katie Keller leads the team with a .395 batting average and 20 RBI, while she's tied with Carley Goetschius for the team lead in home runs with five. Goetschius is batting .325 on the season and has 17 RBI, while Bianca Barone has knocked in 16 runs to go with a .314 average. Dalaney Ostrowski paces Huskie pitching with a 4.01 ERA and two victories, while Clarie Norred leads the team with three wins and has a 4.20 ERA.
| On Deck
The Broncos will return to Ebert Field to host Toledo for a four-game series April 16-18. The teams will open the weekend on Friday, April 16, with a 3 p.m. ET first pitch.
