AKRON, Ohio — No. 6 Western Michigan (28–24) defeated No. 2 Northern Illinois (25–17) 8–3 in an extra-inning contest at Firestone Stadium. The Broncos broke a tie game with a five-run surge in the eighth inning. Despite the Huskies rallying for three runs in the later innings, Western Michigan ultimately prevailed in the tournament's fifth game.

Caitlin Tighe made a significant impact for Western Michigan with a home run and key defensive plays in crunch time. The solo shot is Tight's tenth of the season and extended her hitting streak to 13 games.

"I just really wanted to provide for my team. We work our butts off every single day, knowing that they're putting in the same amount of work that I am, I just want to have their back always" Tighe said following the victory. "I don't think our seed defines us whatsoever. I knew we were good, we always are going to be good, so just seeing that the seed isn't defining us in this tournament is definitely propelling our motivation" she added.

Emily Lampela also contributed notably by driving in two RBIs and hitting a double. Megan Malartisk showcased her speed and agility on the base paths, scoring two runs and recording two hits. On the pitching side, Casey Fazzini closed things out for the Broncos, striking out three batters in 1 1/3 innings of work, contributing to her record of 3–1.

Katy Ramage stood out for Northern Illinois with a strong performance, recording three hits, including a double, and crossed the plate twice while adding an RBI. Jenna Turner also made her mark by driving in a run with her sole hit of the game. In the circle, Madison Carlson pitched five innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits while striking out three batters. Taylor Mackin provided two innings of relief, though she surrendered four runs on four hits.

This victory propels Western Michigan into the 2026 MAC Softball Championship semifinals, where they will face No. 1 Akron. Game 7 will begin tomorrow at 12 PM ET from Firestone Stadium.