March 20, 2010

Box Score

TAMPA, Fla. - A four spot in the first and a three run second help propel the Northern Illinois University softball team to a 7-5 victory over Florida Gulf Coast in the USF The Game Tournament Saturday.

NIU (6-13) scored all four of its runs in the first after two were out. A one out error allowed Krista Matsui (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield) to reach. A two-out single by Jennifer Barnett (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) kept the inning alive for Carly Norton (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) who delivered with a bases clearing double to give the Huskies the 2-0 lead. With two on and two out, Dani Parrish (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield South) tripled, driving in Norton and Michelle Williams (Fresno, Calif./Fresno City College) capping off the four-run outburst.

After the Eagles (11-19) responded with a run in the top of the second, NIU took advantage of another Florida Gulf Coast error in the bottom of the inning. After a lead-off single by senior Kate Welsh (Wilmington, Ill./Bishop McNamara), Andrea Colosimo (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) reached on an error, setting the table for the Huskies' home run leader Zoe Sinner (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South). Sinner blasted her fourth home run over the center field fence to give NIU a 7-1 lead.

"It was a wonderful team win," NIU head coach Lindsay Chouinard. "We capitalized early in the game. Early on, with runners in scoring position, we did a good job putting the ball on the ground and making things happen. That's wonderful to see. It's always nice for our pitchers to pitch with a lead."

Florida Gulf Coast would add a run in the third and three more in the fifth, but Whitney Owens (Pendelton, Ind./Pendelton Heights), who in to pitch in relief for sophomore Morgan Bittner (Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach Poly), and the Huskie defense held the Eagles scoreless the final two innings for the victory. Bittner earned the win, allowing five runs on eight hits and two walks, while striking out seven in five innings, while Owens picked up the save.

Northern Illinois University concludes play in the USF The Game Tournament tomorrow when the Huskies face Florida A&M at 8 a.m. Central Time.

-NIU-