AKRON, Ohio – The Western Michigan softball team rallied back from a seventh inning tie to beat the second seeded Northern Illinois Huskies 8-3 in eight innings at the 2026 MAC Tournament.
The Broncos never trailed on Thursday afternoon in a close battle with Northern Illinois. While the Huskies tied the game in the bottom of the seventh, WMU's offense didn't waiver, putting together a five run eighth inning to advance through the winner's bracket. Four different Brown and Gold batters collected two hits in an 11-hit performance while center fielder
Emily Lampela was the only player with two RBIs. Junior pitcher
Casey Fazzini earned her third win of 2026 in relief for starter
Hannah Potts, pitching 1.1 innings allowing only a single hit while striking out three batters.
For the second game in the postseason the Broncos got on the board first at Firestone Stadium. WMU's first two batters fouled out before infielder
Jordan Smith was walked. After waiting for a full count in the batters' box, Lampela had the first hit of the afternoon, putting a double to the right center fence. Smith was waved around third base and slid in at home, putting her hand down on the plate to avoid the tag.
The Brown and Gold only scored the one run in the top of the first but stayed in front over the next frame. Western Michigan took Northern Illinois down in order with three strong defensive plays both from the infield and the outfield. Both defenses responded in the second as neither team put a runner on base.
The Bronco offense struck again in the third inning after right fielder
Megan Malartsik had a single on the left line. The next two batters flied out to center before WMU added its third hit from Smith on a long single to right. Malartsik made it all the way to third on Smith's single and then was brought home by Lampela who put her hit in almost exactly the same spot. Pinch runner
Corinne Martz and Lampela were left on base as the Brown and Gold held a two-run lead into the bottom of the third.
The Huskies led off their half of the third with a single to short. But Western Michigan's defense again locked this down for three straight outs, including Potts only strikeout of the afternoon. NIU's defense took a cue from the Broncos, keeping WMU from the basepaths in the fourth. In the bottom frame the Brown and Gold got two quick outs before a Northern Illinois batter walked to first. But a flyout to right ended the inning with Western Michigan still in front by two.
Despite starting the fifth with two straight outs, the Broncos added another run to their total. For the fourth straight game shortstop
Caitlin Tighe hit a home run, this time a solo shot to left center, giving WMU a three-run lead. The Brown and Gold didn't remain in front by three for long as the Huskies responded with three straight hits, scoring two runs to start the bottom half of the inning. Western Michigan got the next three batters down in order, including a highlight grab from Malartsik at the fence.
In the top of the sixth the Broncos loaded the bases with only one out after singles from designated player
Analeez Niles and left fielder
Rylee O'Brien along with a walk for pinch hitter
Jadeyn Merrill. But WMU wasn't able to add an insurance run as a fielder's choice led to an out at home that was followed by a strikeout. NIU had a leadoff single in the bottom of the sixth, but the Brown and Gold got three outs after to head to the seventh inning.
Western Michigan put a runner on base in the top half of the inning, but no Broncos made it past first with back-to-back fielder's choices. Up by only a run, WMU headed to the bottom of the seventh to try and close out the game. Two walks in the first three batters had Northern Illinois in scoring position, where they tied the game on a single and only one out. The Brown and Gold didn't allow another run to score with a big out at home plate from Tighe to catcher
Tristen Head that was confirmed on video review. A groundout with two runners on ended the seventh in a three-to-three tie, forcing the game into extras for Western Michigan.
The Bronco offense didn't wait long to retake the lead as Niles led off with a walk followed by an O'Brien double and a fielder's choice from Head to load the bases. Freshman pinch hitter
Liliana Janeczko broke the tie as she put the ball into play in the infield. The Huskies tried to go for the out at home on Niles, but an errant throw from the shortstop scored two runs for WMU.
The runs didn't stop there for the Brown and Gold as with no outs on the board a bunted single from Malartsik scored Head. While Duncan followed up the single with a sacrifice fly to left field, making it a 7-3 Western Michigan advantage and only one out. Tighe also flew out, but not far enough to score another run. But the Broncos got their eighth and final run as
Jordan Smith had a double hit the wall in left field, bringing Malartsik home.
WMU began the bottom of the eighth inning strong as closer
Casey Fazzini threw back-to-back strikeouts. But NIU wasn't going to go down in order, hitting a single to the circle for a base runner. Northern Illinois fourth batter of extras watched a ball go by from Fazzini. But the junior locked in after the first pitch, getting the third and final swing to strike out the side, earning the Brown and Gold their second straight win in the 2026 MAC Tournament.
Western Michigan will face top seeded Akron tomorrow as the first game of the day. First pitch for the Broncos against the Zips is set for noon at Firestone Stadium.
