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Zoe hit two home runs against UC-Riverside.

Softball

Huskies Prevail in Extra Inning Affair

March 14, 2010

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RIVERSIDE, Calif. - An RBI single by Andrea Colosimo (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) proved to be the difference as the Northern Illinois University softball team closed out play in the Amy S. Harrison Classic with a 7-6 victory over host UC-Riverside at Amy S. Harrison Field Sunday.

After playing to a 4-4 tie through seven innings, the Huskies (4-12) were heading to their second extra inning game in as many games. Zoe Sinner (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South), who had already hit a two-run homer in the first, led off the top of the eighth with a two-run shot to center field driving in Monica Segura (Santa Ana, Calif./Segerstrom Fundamental), who was placed on second as per NCAA softball rules, to give the Huskies a 6-4 lead.

"Zoe did a great job at the plate today, and did it when it mattered," NIU head coach Lindsay Chouinard said. "We've been talking the past few days about finding people to step up and make it happen when it matters. She just did a great job."

NIU would tack on an insurance run on Colosimo's single to take a three-run lead. As it turns out, Northern Illinois would need that extra run as UC-Riverside (9-14) scored two runs with one out in their half of the inning. However, sophomore Morgan Bittner (Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach Poly) would settle down and retire the final two batters she faced to seal the win for NIU.

The Huskies' three-run eighth were the first runs they had scored since a four-run first inning. The Highlanders responded to the 4-0 deficit with two runs in the first and second innings each to tie the game.

The Northern Illinois offense belted out 10 hits on the day with three Huskies finishing with multi-hit games. Sinner led the way for NIU going 2-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored. Krista Matsui (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) and Carly Norton (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) each had perfect days with Matsui going 3-for-3, while Norton went 2-for-2.

Bittner earned the victory, improving to 2-6 after allowing six runs, three earned, on 10 hits and a walk while striking out five.

Northern Illinois returns to the diamond next weekend when the Huskies travel to Tampa, Fla. to compete in the USF The Game Tournament hosted by South Florida March 19-21. NIU opens play against Towson at 10 a.m. Central Time.

-NIU-

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