May 1, 2009

Final Stats

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

KENT, Ohio - The Northern Illinois University softball team opened its four-game road trip with a split over Kent State, posting a 3-0 victory over the Golden Flashes in the second game of a doubleheader at the Diamond at Dix Friday afternoon.

After dropping the first game, 3-0 on one hit, the Huskies (16-35, 10-10) came back in game two with a six-hit effort, with the big inning coming in the top of the fourth.

Already leading 1-0 after Krista Matsui (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) scored the first run of the game on an Andrea Colosimo (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) single in the top of the third, NIU added two runs in the top of the fourth. With one on and two out, Katie Colby (Waukesha, Wis./West), who came in to pinch hit for Matsui, belted a two-run homer over the left field fence. The senior's first career home run gave the Huskies a 3-0 advantage.

"Katie did a great job coming off the bench," NIU head coach Lindsay Chouinard said. "She was swinging the bat early and often at some good pitches."

The Golden Flashes (24-22, 15-4), which clinched the MAC East with the game one win, threatened in the bottom of the fourth. The first three Kent State batters reached base safely. With the bases loaded and nobody out, freshman Morgan Bittner (Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach Poly) struck out the next three batters.

Bittner was solid in the circle, shutting out the Golden Flashes, scattering six hits and striking out 10.

"Morgan pitched really well," Chouinard said. "She got stronger as the game went on and found a way to battle out of tough situations."

The Huskies will wrap up their 2009 regular season this weekend with a two-game set at the University at Buffalo. The first game is Saturday with first pitch set for 1 p.m.

-NIU-