March 12, 2010

Box Score

Box Score in PDF Format

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The Northern Illinois University softball team was edged out 2-1 by Harvard in its first game of the Amy S. Harrison Classic at Amy S. Harrison Field Friday afternoon.

With the game tied 1-1 in the top of the sixth, the Crimson's (3-3) scored the game winning run when Whitney Shaw doubled to center field to drive in Ashley Heritage from second to take the lead. NIU was unable to add to its first inning run to fall to 2-11 on the season.

The Huskies opened the scoring in the first inning on a one out single to right field by freshman Jenn Barnett (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) driving in Dani Parrish (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) from second. Later in the inning, NIU would place two runners on with two outs, but they would be stranded.

Northern Illinois had a chance to break the game open in the bottom of the third, when it loaded the bases with two outs. However, the Huskies came up empty and Harvard would make them pay. The Crimson tied the game in the top of the fourth on an RBI single by Jennifer Francis.

"We just didn't execute when it mattered," NIU head coach Lindsay Chouinard said. "We had our opportunities to get sacrifice bunts down and other opportunities for every spot in the line up to come up big and we didn't get anybody to come through. If you don't have timely hitting, you can't win ball games."

Morgan Bittner (Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach Poly) took the loss, allowing two runs on seven hits, two walks and two strike outs in seven innings. The Huskie offense pounded out seven hits, but had just one run to show for it.

The Huskies continue play in the Amy S. Harriosn Classic Saturday when Northern Illinois takes on Idaho State and the Crimson at 1:30 and 4 p.m. CT respectively.

-NIU-