April 20, 2007
Box Score
BUFFALO, N.Y. -The Northern Illinois University softball team kicked off its four game road trip sweeping its doubleheader from Buffalo with an offensive explosion taking Game 1, 9-4 and winning Game 2 10-1 in six innings.
"Kate (Greenough) struggled, but we hit well enough to win," said NIU head coach Donna Martin. "Taryn (Hagemann) pitched very well. She came in to pitch for Kate in the first game and pitched the second game. She threw really well, allowing only one hit. The one run she gave up was unearned."
The Huskies (18-19, 7-5) opened up the first game with a two-run first. Buffalo scored a run in the bottom of the second to cut the Huskie lead in half, 2-1. NIU blew the game open in the top of the fourth with five-runs.
With one out and one on Ashley Clement singled, but an error by the left fielder allowed her to advance to second and Kelly Park to score. Jenna Mitchell singled, moving Clement to third. Mitchell put herself in scoring position by stealing second. Krystn Sendejas grounded out to the pitcher, driving in Clement. After Krista McPherson was hit by a pitch, Bailey Ouellette came up with two on and two outs and belted her first home run of the season, a three-run shot to center field.
Buffalo scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth and another in the bottom of the fifth to close the gap to 7-4. That would be the closest the Bulls would get. NIU added two more insurance runs in the top of the seventh for the 9-4 victory.
Greenough (10-10) picked up the victory, going 4.1 innings allowing four runs on eight hits. Michelle Nendza and Ouellette had big days at the plate for the Huskies. Nendza went 1-3 with two runs batted in, while Ouellette was 1-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored.
The second game was all Huskies. NIU jumped on top early with six runs in the first two innings. The Huskies put together another five-run inning, this time in the top of the second.
Back-to-back walks by Clement and Allie Parker put two on with no one out. McPherson earned a one-out walk loading the bases for Ouellette. She singled, driving in two runs and giving the Huskies a 3-0 lead. McPherson and Ouellette scored on wild pitches, to give the Huskies an early 5-0 lead. NIU sent everyone home a little early when it score four runs in the top of the sixth.
Hagemann (6-9) went six innings allowing one unearned run on one hit and had four strike outs. Ouellette went 2-3 with three RBIs and a run scored in the second game, while Park went 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
The Huskies are back in action Saturday when they travel to Ohio to take on the Golden Flashes of Kent State. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. CDT.
