DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University softball team split its doubleheader with Western Michigan on Senior Day at Mary M. Bell Field Saturday.
NIU (26-23, 11-9) earned a 3-0 win in the regular-season finale after being edged out by the Broncos (18-26, 9-11) in game one, 8-7.
Amber Bumbalough (Bremerton, Wash./Klahowya Secondary) turned in a gem from the pitcher's circle, throwing her first career complete game shutout to improve to 2-1 on the season. The Huskie freshman scattered six hits and two walks, while striking out two in seven scoreless innings.
"To hold them to no runs after the way the series has been going with it going back and forth and being high scoring, that's a big deal for her," said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. "She got her first career hit also, so it was a big day for her."
The bottom of the Huskie line up did a solid job of setting the table for the top of the order as seven, eight and nine hitters combined to go 3-for-8 with a walk and three runs scored. NIU's one through three batters went 4-for-10 with a walk and two RBIs.
"We've kind of been doing that all year long," Sutcliffe said. "I love the bottom of our order because we have an extra 1-2-3 down there. There's really not a spot in our lineup when I'm worried when they come up to bat.
"We need them [the bottom of the order] to set the table for Jenny. That's why we have her batting lead-off because she can start a game in a big way and she can come through when the bottom of the lineup gets on."
NIU manufactured a run in the bottom of the third to open the game's scoring. Katie Lamich (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) opened the inning when she reached on an infield single. She then stole second and third for Jenny Van Geertry (Mokena, Ill./Lincoln-Way East).
Van Geertry struck out, however, the pitch got away from the Bronco catcher allowing the Huskie center fielder to reach and Lamich to score.
The Huskies added runs in the fifth and the sixth to give Bumbalough a cushion in the late innings. In the bottom of the fifth, with runners at first and second and one out, NIU's No. 3 hitter, freshman Katie Keller (Geneva, Ill./Geneva) delivered an RBI single to center.
In the sixth, with Lamich on third and Van Geertry at the plate, the Huskie senior doubled to right center allowing Lamich to score her second run of the game.
Bumbalough pitched around a lead-off double in the seventh to seal the Huskie victory.
It was a different story for NIU in the first game as the day. The top of the order went 5-for-14 with four RBIs and three runs scored. The bottom five was 3-for-16 with two runs scored.
After falling behind, 1-0, in the first inning, the Huskies put up a four-spot in the second inning. Western Michigan came back with two runs in the third to cut the lead to one, 4-3.
A lead-off homer by Van Geertry in the bottom of the fourth gave NIU a 5-3 advantage. However, the Broncos took the lead on a three-run home run in the top of the fifth.
NIU recaptured the lead in the bottom of the frame when Kara Apato (Oak Lawn, Ill./Marist), who walked and advanced to third on Sam Schmidt's (Lombard, Ill./Willowbrook) double down the left field line, scored on a wild pitch. Van Geertry's sacrifice fly capped the Huskies scoring in the inning and unfortunately the game.
The Broncos tied the game with a run in the sixth and took the lead in the seventh to win the game.
The Huskies are back in action Wednesday when NIU travels to Akron, Ohio to compete in the 2019 Mid-American Conference Softball Tournament. Be sure to check NIUHuskies.com for the Huskies' seeding and first game opponent.
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