DeKalb, Illi. – The Western Michigan softball team halted the Huskies' late-inning surge and defeated Northern Illinois 7-6 on Tuesday afternoon as the Broncos improved their overall record to 15-22 and 9-9 in the Mid-American Conference. 
 
FINAL SCORE: Western Michigan 7, Northern Illinois 6
LOCATION: Mary M. Bell Field (DeKalb, Illi.)  
RECORDS: Western Michigan (15-22, 9-9 MAC) | Northern Illinois (21-22, 10-10 MAC)
W: Rissa Bajusz (10-10) | L: Emily Dato (4-2)
 
Western Michigan registered seven runs on seven hits to open the series with NIU. Sophomore outfielder Payton Kelly paced the Bronco offense with two hits to bat in three runs. Jessica Young and Addison Hudson each went 1-for-2 and scored a run for WMU. Madison Duell also went 1-for 2 batting in three runs while Young batted in one. Cassidy Brendtke and Courtney Farrish each went 1-for-4 at the plate. Brendtke scored two runs for Brown & Gold, Taylor Wolfe one, and Haleigh Smith one. 
 
The two teams went scoreless in the first two innings at Mary M. Bell Field in DeKalb, Illinois. 
Western Michigan was first to get on the board in the third. Young singled to left center to reach base for the Broncos. After Young advanced to second on a Hudson sac bunt, Kelly doubled to right center to score Young and claim the early 1-0 lead. 
 
The Huskies answered in the bottom of the third, pushing across two runs on three hits. The NIU lead would be short-lived as Western Michigan registered four runs on three hits in the top of the fourth. 
 
Farrish led the troops with a single through the left side. WMU loaded the bases, Wolfe pinch ran for Farrish, and Brendtke and Haley Boxwell each reached on a fielder's choice. The Broncos claimed its first pair of runs in the fourth with a pair of sac flies by Madison Duell and Jessica Young.
 
Kelly would strike again as the fourth came to a close, slapping a 2 RBI double to right center. Her second double of the game marked her sixth of the season to extend WMU's lead, to 5-2. 
 
Western Michigan wrangled in two more runs in the top of the fifth to answer for the one run given up to the Huskies in the bottom of the fourth. Haleigh Smith walked and Brendtke and Duell each added singles.
 
The two teams went scoreless again in the sixth and NIU increased its defense top of the seventh to post a 0 on the board for the Broncos. Northern Illinois posted three runs in the final outing to come within one run of WMU. Western Michigan claimed a nail-biting win after junior Rissa Bajusz struck out NIU's Isabel Shafer for the final out with two runners on base.
 
The Broncos wrap up the midweek MAC Series with Northern Illinois on Wednesday, April 26 with a doubleheader starting at 2 pm. WMU then returns to Ebert Field for its last series of home games against the Ohio Bobcats on April 29-30. Broncos open play with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 29 starting at 1 pm. The weekend play will be full of celebrations; Saturday's doubleheader will feature a Senior Day celebration for Maddie Duell, Courtney Farrish, Autumn Godwin, Alyssa Kramer, Natalie Shuey, and Mikayla Barnard. On Sunday, the Broncos will celebrate WMU Alumni.