March 25, 2006
Box Score
Indianapolis, IN -- Early in the softball season, you always have to adjust to varying weather conditions, but not usually all in the same game. As Northern Illinois University headed to Butler University for Saturday's doubleheader, they faced every kind of weather imaginable. In the sun, snow, rain, sleet and hail, the Huskies managed to pull out a 4-2 victory against the Bulldogs. The nightcap was cancelled in the second inning when a short downpour ceased play.
After having the past nine days off, the visiting Huskies came out ready to score. Although the first two batters were quickly retired, leftfielder Kelly Drozd (Lockport, IL/Lockport) drew a two-out walk and stole second only two score a few minutes later when catcher Elyse Jamrozy (Brookfield, IL/Riverside-Brookfield) notched her third home run of the season and gave NIU the quick two-run lead.
Two innings later, the Bulldogs cut the Huskie lead in half as leftfielder Jenny Jacobs blasted her first home run of the season. Northern Illinois came back in the top of the fourth with an answer to the Butler scoring.
With one out in the inning, second baseman Bailey Ouellette (Beaverton, OR/Beaverton) walked and then promptly reached third base one batter later when Ellen Stoddard (Rolling Meadows, IL/Palatine Fremd) doubled to right-centerfield. With Huskies now on second and third, designated player Jenna Roberts (Verona, WI/Verona) put down a successful safety squeeze bunt, scoring Ouellette and advancing Stoddard to third to give NIU the 3-1 edge. A couple of innings passed before the Huskies went up by three when third baseman Michelle Nendza (Palos Park, IL/Lemont Mt. Assisi) hit her fourth round-tripper of the season.
Butler did match the final NIU run in the bottom of the inning, but it was too little, too late for the Bulldogs as the Huskies pulled away with the 4-2 victory. Stoddard ended the game going 3-for-3 which included a two doubles and a single while shortstop Krista McPherson (Beecher, IL/Beecher) also had a single on the day. Pitcher Taryn Hagemann (Rochelle, IL/Rochelle) threw the complete game victory, giving the sophomore her fifth victory of the year.
"Considering the conditions, I think we did a pretty good job," said head coach Donna Martin. "It's not easy to play in weather that's constantly changing, and we did a pretty good job staying consistent and staying focused."
Now a game over .500 on the season, the 10-9 Huskies begin Mid-American Conference play on March 31 in a doubleheader versus Central Michigan University (8-15) at 12 pm (CST) in Mount Pleasant, MI. NIU will finish the first MAC weekend against Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, MI on April 1 and 2 in games at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.
