KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan softball split this afternoon's doubleheader with the visiting Northern Illinois Huskies, falling in game one by a final score of 4-3 in eight innings, and bouncing back in game two for a comeback 7-6 victory. The results move WMU to 20-31 on the season, and 10-15 in Mid-American Conference play.

Game one began with immediate fireworks as senior pitcher Reily Galloway entered today's pair of ballgames tied for the single-season strikeout record at 247 K's on the year. That record was broken in the game's very first half inning as Galloway recorded strikeouts for all three outs to become the new Western Michigan softball single-season strikeout leader. She would go on to do what has somehow become the norm for her, registering a total of 14 K's on the day to bring her season total to 261 and career total to 436.

The Huskies struck first on the scoreboard, however, and took a 2-0 advantage early on. Galloway would help her own cause at the plate, singling through the left side of the infield after working the count full to bring senior catcher Courtney Farrish home, cutting the NIU edge in half in the bottom of the first inning.

Two frames later, sophomore designated hitter Cassidy Brendtke got the Bronco half started with a single down the left field line on the very first pitch she saw. In the next at-bat, Farrish dug in once again. After watching two balls outside the zone, she belted a two run bomb to straight-away center field, pushing the Broncos ahead by a 3-2 margin.

Northern Illinois would tie the game up at three runs apiece in the bottom of the fifth, and unfortunately for WMU, emerged victorious in extra innings by a slim 4-3 edge. A sacrifice fly with one out wound up being the difference in the first game of the day.

Courtney Farrish was the big bat for the Broncos, going 3-5 with a homerun and two singles, as well as a pair of runs batted in. Reily Galloway displayed her offensive skills while achieving her 14^th double-digit strikeout performance of the season as well, going 3-4 with three base knocks and an RBI of her own. Junior infielder Alyssa Kramer finished her day an efficient 2-4, while Cassidy Brendtke contributed two hits in five at bats, furthermore each displaying their consistency in the WMU lineup.

Contest number two of the day featured a superb showing of horsepower from the Broncos at the plate, as well as a great example of persistence. Reily Galloway got things started in the bottom of the second, launching a solo homer over the left field wall after fouling off three straight pitches facing a 2-2 count.

In the next half inning, sophomore pitcher Rissa Bajusz worked the count full before a base knock got her on board with nobody out. Two batters later, senior infielder Jordyn Swinehart had her turn to touch all four bases, sending the 1-2 offering to nearly the exact spot Galloway found with her home run the inning before.

The Broncos would not be finished, as Courtney Farrish hopped in on the action in the next plate appearance, sending another ball over the fence in left field to bump the lead up to 4-0. Rissa Bajusz would help her own cause, sending and RBI single to the gap in right-center field to bring freshman outfielder Taylor Wolfe across the plate after walking earlier in the inning to make the score 5-0 in favor of WMU.

Northern Illinois would rally in the top half of the fifth inning, hanging a six in the frame to move ahead with an inning and a half remaining. Down to their last out, the Broncos fate rested on the shoulders of Farrish, who came through for her team once again with a double to left-center on the first pitch of her at-bat. Alyssa Kramer stepped in next and singled to the NIU shortstop, advancing senior pinch-runner Maggie Kehoe to third in the process.

Fearful that Galloway would do what Galloway does at the plate, the Huskies elected to intentionally walk her, loading the bases and allowing the force out at any bag with two out while bringing up junior outfielder Natalie Shuey. Wasting no time, Shuey sent the first offering of the plate appearance down the right field line, bringing Kehoe home with ease and Kramer across as well after a shifty slide got her hand on the plate around the tag attempt of the NIU catcher to give the Broncos a win in dramatic fashion.

Courtney Farrish and Alyssa Kramer provided a big offensive spark in game two. Farrish finished 2-4 with another homer in addition to the rally-starting double in the game's final frame, while Kramer was 2-4 herself with a pair of singles and the tying run scored. Rissa Bajusz was perfect at the plate, going 2-2 with a run batted in and a run scored, while Cassidy Brendtke finished 1-3 on the day. Jordyn Swinehart and Natalie Shuey each went 1-4 in game two, each adding two RBI's respectively with Shuey's coming theatrically in the bottom of the seventh to seal the deal for Western Michigan.

The Broncos now gear up for the final series of the season, traveling to Athens for a weekend series with the Ohio Bobcats on May 7-8. Saturday's doubleheader shows a 1 p.m. first pitch in game one, while Sunday's single game is slated to begin at 12 p.m. Live scoring will be available for all three contests.

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