April 1, 2007
Final Stats
DEKALB, Ill. -The Northern Illinois University softball team completed the two-game sweep of Central Michigan at Mary M. Bell Field Sunday afternoon defeating the Chippewas, 14-4 in five innings.
The Huskies (13-13, 3-1) batted around in the first inning. Krista McPherson led things off for NIU with a single to left. Michelle Nendza reached on a fielder's choice and McPherson advanced all the way to third on a throwing error by the Chippewas' third baseman. Randi Kreiter walked loading the bases for Ellen Stoddard.
Stoddard singled to left driving in McPherson and keeping bases juiced for the Huskies. Back- to-back walks by Kelly Park and Bailey Ouellette drove in two more giving the Huskies an early 4-0 lead. Central Michigan responded with two runs in the top of the second, cutting deficit to two heading into the bottom of the second.
The Huskies added three more in the bottom of the second. Park hit a two-run double and Ashley Clement hit a sacrifice fly to center scoring Stoddard. NIU headed into the top of the third with a 7-2 lead.
After holding Central Michigan (11-14, 1-3) scoreless in the third, NIU posted two runs in the bottom of the third. McPherson led off the inning with a single and advanced into scoring position on a Krystn Sendejas groundout. McPherson scored when Nendza reached on an error by the CMU third baseman to put the Huskies up 9-2 heading into the top of the fourth. The Huskies put the game away in the bottom of the fourth with five more runs.
"She was very key. She was the catalyst for us," NIU head coach Donna Martin said of McPherson at the plate this weekend. "She found a way to get on base either with a bunt, a slap of a hit. That's what you need out of your leadoff hitter."
Freshman Kate Greenough leveled her record at 8-8 with the win going five innings, allowing four runs on six hits. Park had an outstanding day. Not only did she go 1-2 from the plate driving in three runs, she made a spectacular diving catch in center to seal the win for the Huskies.
The Huskies will be back in action Tuesday when they head to Evanston to face Northwestern at 3 p.m. The game will be available on GameTracker on niuhuskies.com.
