DeKALB, Ill. -- The Western Michigan softball team got a pair of strong pitching performances from
Sydney Stefanick and Reilly Galloway, splitting a doubleheader on the road at Northern Illinois to open a four-game Mid-American Conference series. The Broncos took game one, 8-5, as Stefanick went the distance in the victory. NIU took the night cap, 2-1, despite managing only two hits off Galloway, who also went the distance.
The teams have altered their weekend schedule due to expected inclement weather in DeKalb on Saturday and will now take tomorrow off before playing a doubleheader on Sunday, April 11, beginning at 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT.
| Game One
The Broncos rode the big inning and Stefanick's arm to a victory in game one.
Sophia Ehlers and
Courtney Farrish each had two hits for WMU, while
Kaylen Glenfield had three RBI and
Jordyn Swinehart knocked in a pair of runs. Stefanick gave up six hits in the seven-inning complete game and allowed just one earned run. She did not issue a walk in the game. Stefanick also helped her own cause at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.
Farrish hit a solo homer in the second to give the Broncos a 1-0 lead before WMU exploded for six runs in the fourth. Farrish scored Stefanick on a sacrifice fly before
Jordyn Swinehart doubled home a pair of runs. With the bases loaded, Glenfield delivered the big blow, clearing the bases with a double to center.
NIU did not go quietly, as the Huskies scored four runs in the fourth, taking advantage of two WMU errors. The Broncos added an insurance run on an RBI single from Ehlers in the sixth. NIU got one run in the seventh before Stefanick slammed the door for the 8-5 victory.
| Game Two
The night cap saw a pitcher's duel deliver heartbreak for the Broncos.
Reily Galloway went the distance (6.1 innings), allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out nine Huskies. NIU's Claire Norred was just as good, limiting WMU to four hits and an earned run.
Mackenzie Swinehart was 2-for-3 with the lone RBI for WMU, while Carley Goetschius delivered a two-run, walk-off home run for NIU. Kara Apato had the only other Huskie hit.
Each team had just one hit over the first four scoreless innings before the Broncos took advantage of a leadoff walk in the fifth. Garey drew the free pass and moved up to second on a groundout by
Madison Duell, then third on a single to left by
Jordyn Swinehart. Garey scored on
Mackenzie Swinehart's infield single, making it 1-0. The Broncos only managed one run, as three straight batters then hit into a fielder's choice to end the inning. WMU had just one more hit in the game, a two-out single by
Mackenzie Swinehart in the seventh. She was stranded after a groundout to end the inning.
NIU's only hit before the bottom of the seventh came when Galloway worked around a leadoff single in the Huskie fourth. The game was decided in the home half of seventh when Galloway issued a leadoff walk, only the second free pass she issued in the game, then after sacrifice bunt, Goetschius homered to left.
| On Deck
The teams will conclude the four-game series on Sunday, April 11, with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT.Â
