April 11, 2008

Game One

Game Two

Game One

Game Two

DeKALB, Ill. - The Northern Illinois softball team swept a doubleheader against Buffalo (3-21, 1-5) on Friday afternoon, winning 5-3 in game-one and 3-2 in game-two on a walk-off double by junior Bailey Ouellette (Beaverton, Ore./Beaverton). The Huskies (8-19, 2-4) have won three of the first four games of their current seven-game home stand.

After getting a three-run lead in the second inning of game one, senior Taryn Hagemann (Rochelle, Ill./Rochelle) carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, but lost it to the first hitter of the inning, UB's Erin Zilka, on a single up the middle. Hagemann then gave up another single and a walk with a fly out sandwiched between, forcing NIU head coach Lindsay Chouinard to bring in sophomore Kate Greenough (Portland, Ore./David Douglas).

Greenough was able to get a strike out and a fly out to escape the bases-loaded jam and finished the game, earning her first save of the year after giving up an earned run on three hits with a strike out in 1.2 innings of work.

Hagemann earned the win after pitching 5.1 innings, giving up no runs on two hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Kate Ivancich (2-7) took the loss for Buffalo, allowing five runs on five hits with two strike outs.

Seniors Krista McPherson (Beecher, Ill./Beecher), Michelle Nendza (Palos Park, Ill./Lemont Mt. Assisi) and freshman Andrea Colosimo (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) each had one hit for NIU, while sophomore Krystn Sendejas (Galveston, Texas/Ball) and Dani Thompson (Canyon Country, Calif./Canyon) each had a hit and a run batted in. Junior Emily Gooding (Lismore, Australia/Lake Land C.C.) also drove in a run for the Huskies.

NIU trailed, 2-0, in game two until the Huskies tied the game after getting a run in the fourth and fifth frames on a Thompson RBI ground out and a wild pitch that allowed McPherson to score from third base.

Then, with two outs and freshman Joreigh Landers (Vernonia, Ore./Vernonia) on second base, pinch-hitter Ouellette hit a walk-off double that bounced of third base and scored Landers from second to give NIU the victory.

Greenough started the game for the Huskies, going three innings and giving up an earned run on six hits with a strike out. Hagemann (2-5) came in to relieve Greenough in the fourth inning and pitched the final four frames, allowing only one hit with three strike outs to earn her second win of the day.

Sharon Barr (0-8) took the loss for the Bulls, pitching 6.1 frames and allowing three earned runs on five hits with four walks along with two strike outs.

Gooding and junior Ashley Clement (Moline, Ill./Moline) had a hit apiece for NIU. Ouellette and Thompson each had a hit and a RBI.

NIU continues its seven-game home stand tomorrow against Kent State (25-8, 8-1) at 2 p.m. CDT.

-NIU-