April 11, 2009

Final Stats

Box Score

DEKALB, Ill. - The Northern Illinois University softball team fell to Western Michigan, 4-0, in a battle for second place in the MAC West Saturday afternoon at Mary M. Bell Field.

Western Michigan (13-14, 7-2) jumped on top of the Huskies (11-23, 6-3) early, scoring three runs. The Broncos' Lexi Jager opened the scoring when she hit a one-out two-run homer to give WMU a 2-0 lead. Pitcher Meredith Whitney helped her own cause when she singled and moved to second on a passed ball. Mandy Sayers doubled down the left field line to score Whitney and give the Broncos the early 3-0 lead.

The Broncos added an insurance run in the top of the third when Whitney singled up the middle driving in Jager, who tripled to right center.

The NIU offense was held to two hits on the day with those coming from Zoe Sinner (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove) and Emily Gooding (Lismore, Australia/Lake Land C.C.). Both went 1-for-3 from the plate.

While she suffered the loss, freshman Morgan Bittner pitched well for the Huskies. She allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits while striking out nine. She allowed one run on three hits from the second inning on.

"She threw very well after the first inning," NIU head coach Lindsay Chouinard said of Bittner's performance. "For her to be successful, it's just coming out and attacking the way she's capable of. We had that conversation after the game that she has to do that from here on forward."

Northern Illinois concludes its series with the Broncos tomorrow afternoon with first pitch slated for 1 p.m. Fans can follow all the action live via Gametracker at www.niuhuskies.com.

-NIU-