April 25, 2009

Final Stats

Box Score

DEKALB, Ill. - With Northern Illinois University trailing 4-3 in the bottom of ninth and the bases loaded, senior Jenna Roberts (Verona, Wis./West) came through with a clutch two-out single to center field driving in two runs and giving the Huskies a 5-4 extra innings victory over Eastern Michigan Saturday afternoon at Mary M. Bell Field.

"We talked with Jenna a lot earlier in the year when things weren't necessarily happening the way she wanted them to with runners in scoring position," NIU head coach Lindsay Chouinard. "We just told her to stay the course. It will happen tart happening for you and it will start happening when it matters."

The Huskies (14-32, 9-8) scored five runs on eight hits and three EMU errors. Roberts went 2-for-5 with two runs batted in a run scored, while Ouellette went 2-for-3 with two RBI.

"The offense took a little while to figure it out," Chouinard said. "Later in the game, we started hitting the ball on the ground. It's a good win."

Eastern Michigan (16-29, 4-13) jumped on top first with a two-run blast by Kaylee Toliver over the left field fence in the top of the second. Freshman pitcher Morgan Bittner (Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach Poly) settled down and settled in, shutting down the Eagles for the next five innings, giving her team a chance to get back in the game.

With two on and two out, Bailey Ouellette (Beaverton, Ore./Beaverton) did just that, belting a triple down the right field line, clearing the bases and tying the game, 2-2. Unfortunately for NIU, she was stranded at third and the game went into extra innings.

The Eagles scored a run in the top of the eighth when Sarah Gerber scored from second after Jenny Scherer reached on a throwing error by Bittner. The Huskies responded with a run in the bottom of the inning when Ashley Cann (Glenwood, Ill./Marian Catholic), who was pinch running for Zoe Sinner (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South), scored on an error by the shortstop, to tie the game 4-4.

However, with the bases loaded and one out, Emily Gooding (Lismore, Australia/Lake Land C.C.) lined into a double play to end the inning. Then the rains came, delaying the game for about an hour.

Eastern Michigan took a 4-3 lead in the top of the ninth when McKenna Russ scored on a sacrifice fly by Lauren DeLaPaz.

Northern Illinois is back on the diamond Sunday afternoon when NIU concludes its series with the Eagles. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. CST. Fans can follow all the action live via Gametracker at www.niuhuskies.com.

-NIU-