April 26, 2009
Final Stats
Box Score 
DEKALB, Ill. - Eastern Michigan scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to defeat the Northern Illinois University softball team, 9-8, in a slugfest Sunday afternoon at Mary M. Bell Field.
"We're a young team," NIU head coach Lindsay Chouinard said. "We just need to learn how to finish. We hit the ball great and scored a lot of runs. We just need to learn how to finish games."
With the Huskies (14-33, 9-9) leading, 8-7, heading into the final inning, EMU's (17-29, 5-13) Jenny Scherer singled to right center, driving in Stacie Skodinski from second to tie the game 8-8. Scherer scored three batters later on a fielder's choice to give the Eagles the 9-8 lead.
Sunday's game was an offensive contest from the opening frame. Eastern Michigan jumped out to a 4-0 lead after putting up a four spot in the first inning. NIU responded with four runs of its own in the bottom of the inning. Senior Katie Colby (Waukesha, Wis./West) and Michelle Williams (Fresno, Calif./Bullard) each drove in two runs on singles to tie the game at 4-4.
After EMU went back in front with a pair of runs in the top of the third, NIU retook the lead with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Andrea Colosimo (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) scored on a sacrifice fly and Kate Welsh (Wilmington, Ill./Bishop McNamara), who was pinch running for Bailey Ouellette (Beaverton, Ore./Beaverton), scored when the catcher threw the ball away trying to throw Welsh out as she tried to steal third to tie the game 6-6. Williams gave the Huskies the lead when she hit a two-out homer over the left field fence, giving the Huskies a 7-6 advantage.
Eastern tied the game, 7-7, with a run in the fourth and Northern Illinois retook the lead with a run in the bottom of the fifth.
NIU's offense had a solid day at the plate, scoring eight runs and belting out 11 hits with several Huskies posting multi-hit games. Jenna Roberts (Verona, Wis./West) went 2-for-3 with a stolen base, Williams went 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored and Colby went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.
"Jenna had a great day at the plate," Chouinard said. "She got on, stole bases, laid down sacrifice bunts. She did all you can ask her to do."
Northern Illinois is back in action Tuesday night when NIU plays host to the Redbirds of Illinois State. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. CST. Fans can follow all the action live via Huskies All-Access with Russell Houghtaling and Brett McWethy on the call and Gametracker at www.niuhuskies.com.
-NIU-
