April 27, 2007

Box Score

DEKALB, Ill. - The Northern Illinois University softball team split its doubleheader with Ohio Friday afternoon at Mary M. Bell Field.

"We did not play NIU softball in the first game," NIU head coach Donna Martin said. "I thought Taryn (Hagemann) pitched very well. The had eight hits and they didn't hit the ball that hard."

After dropping the first game, 3-0, the Huskies (19-22, 8-8) came out with a better effort in the second game. The Huskies took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. Randi Kreiter hit a two-out double and then stole third. Michelle Nendza drove in her team-leading 26th RBI when she hit a single to left field driving in Kreiter.

NIU held Ohio (21-25, 8-8) scoreless until the top of the sixth. Alicia Catlette led off the top of the sixth with a double to left field. Maureen McKelvey sacrificed Catlette over to third and Debbie Szalejko drove her in with a single to left.

The score remained tied after seven innings, sending the game into extra innings. Both teams continued their solid defense into the extra frames. Neither team was able to scratch across one run in an inning and a half. Bailey Ouellette stepped to the plate to leadoff the bottom of the ninth and hit a walk-off home run over the center field fence for a 2-1 victory for the Huskies. It was Ouellette's only hit of the game.

"She's been swinging the bat well, she was bound to hit one," Martin said. "I was very happy for her. We put her in the fifth spot in the line up. That's where you put someone with some pop."

Hagemann (7-11) suffered the loss in the first game, going seven innings and allowing three runs, one earned on eight hits. Freshman Kate Greenough (12-11) picked up the win in the second game. She gave up one run on five hits and struck out four Bobcat batters.

The Huskies will be back in action Saturday when they play host to Akron at Mary M. Bell Field. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.