Softball (28-13, 9-5 MAC) faced Western Michigan University (18-19) in a three game series over the weekend, losing the first two games but ending with a victory Saturday.

The Huskies held an early 3-0 lead in game one Friday but could not close the game out and allowed a late surge from the Broncos, who scored four runs in the last two innings to pull off a 4-3 victory. Freshman pitcher Alex Frenz struck out nine batters in six innings of work, but gave up three of the four runs the Broncos scored.

The teams had a doubleheader Saturday to finish the series, splitting the two-game slot. Western Michigan was led by a strong offensive showing, highlighted by a four-run fourth inning. NIU scored four runs in the first three innings but remained silent for the rest of the game, resulting in a 7-4 win for the Broncos.

NIU’s bats finally heated up in the final game of the weekend, picking up 11 hits in the 6-4 victory. Junior first baseman Kayti Grable led the way, going 3-4.

“Their pitcher [Allyson Kus] did a really nice job against us this weekend,” said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe, according to an NIU Athletics news release. “She kept us in check. We had to win game two. That’s all there was to it. It was a good job by us to pull through and come out with the win.”

The Huskies will head back on the road this week as they prepare to battle in a three-game series against Eastern Michigan University starting at 2 p.m. Friday in Ypsilanti, Mich.