Emily Woller
The Northern Illinois University softball team suffered a 5-3 setback to Western Michigan in Mid-American Conference softball action at Fran Ebert Saturday.
The Huskies (19-33, 7-14) fell behind early after a two-run third inning by the Broncos.
Northern Illinois responded with a run in the top of the fifth on a Carly Norton (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) double to left center field to make the score 2-1. Unfortunately for NIU, Western Michigan came back with two more runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 4-1 lead.
Once again, the Huskies battled back.
Erika Oswald (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) led off the top of the sixth with a single. Jennifer Barnett (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) then triple to put runners at second and third with no outs. With two down and runners still at second and third, freshman Emily Woller (Kenosha, Wis./Tremper) delivered a two-run single to cut the deficit to one, 4-3.
However, Western Michigan (24-23, 10-9) came back with a run in the bottom of the sixth to extend its lead to 5-3. Meredith Whitney, who picked up the victory, retired the Huskies in order in the top of the seventh to seal the victory.
NIU was outhit by the Broncos, 7-6. Woller led the way for the Huskie offense, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
“I thought Emily did a good job, getting two hits off one of the conference’s best pitchers,” said NIU head coach Lindsay Chouinard. “She stepped up big for us, with two RBIs.
“We had to move a lot of people around and the younger kids did a good job of fighting and competing.”
The Huskies are back in action Sunday when NIU takes on Western Michigan in the season finale. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.
