DEKALB, Ill. – In front of a packed house full of fans and the 1988 World Series team at Mary M. Bell Field, the Northern Illinois University softball team held off the Western Michigan Broncos 2-1 on Friday to open a weekend Mid-American Conference series.  
 
"The energy that was in the stadium was absolutely amazing," said NIU head softball coach Christina Sutcliffe.  "Obviously celebrating the 1988 team, having that energy from that, but thanks to Rod Carey getting the football team out there and giving us some extra support."
 
The scoring was hard to come by from both sides.  NIU (18-26, 9-8 MAC) starting pitcher Alex Frenz (Oakville, Mo./Oakville) allowed just one hit in the first five innings with four strikeouts. Western Michigan (23-21, 10-9 MAC) hurler Jordan Kurth pitched her way around a Huskie scoring threat in the second inning. With senior Bekah Harnish (Maple Park, Ill. /Burlington Central) on third after lacing a one-out triple, Kurth got sophomore Kayla Scaperotta (Coral Springs, Fla. /Coral Springs Charter School) to pop out to second baseman Jenna Faultersack who then threw to third to catch Harnish off the base to end the inning.
 
The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fifth.  NIU put two runners on base with one out as sophomore Anne Allen (Frankfort, Ill. /Lincoln-Way Central) singled and freshman Kira Mickelson (Wheatland, Wis. /Westosha Central) was hit by a pitch.  Junior Katie Lamich (Naperville, Ill. /Naperville Central) then reached on an infield single to shortstop Brooke Wyman. Wyman attempted to get Mickelson out at second, but her throw went into the outfield allowing pinch-runner Katie Wingerter (Prospect Heights, Ill./Hersey) to score the game's first run. 
 
Jenny Van Geertry (Mokena, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) then drew a walk to load the bases. After Dominique Greeno (Lacey, Wash./North Thurston) flew out to right field for the second out,
junior pinch-hitter Abby Howlett (South Elgin, Ill. /St. Charles North) drew a walk to drive in Mickelson and put NIU ahead 2-0.  
 
"I am just glad that I can go up there to get the run in and do my job," said Howlett.  
 
The Broncos had a chance to tie the game in the top of the sixth. With two outs, Western Michigan loaded the bases on a walk, single and error. Frenz was able to get NIU out of the inning unscathed by getting Marlee Wilson to ground out to end the inning. Western Michigan did put a run on the board in the top of the seventh on a Skylar Sobeski solo home run, but Frenz got the final out to get the Huskies the win.
 
Frenz moved her record to 8-6 on the year, allowing just one run on five hits with four strikeouts.
 
"I was really excited," said Frenz.  "The first couple innings I was really hyped and I needed to calm down a little bit. I just needed to go back to what I know and know what you needed to do.  
 
"Alex is doing a great job for us and definitely has stepped up here the last couple weeks," said Sutcliffe. 
 
The Huskies and Broncos will suit up for two games starting at 1 p.m. at Mary M. Bell Field on Saturday. NIU will be celebrating 60 years of softball. Live stats and streaming will be available on niuhuskies.com.