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Morgan Bittner improved to 7-7 with the Game Two victory over Kent State

Softball

Huskies Split MAC Opener With Kent State

April 2, 2010

Box Score

Game 1 Box Score in PDF Format Get Acrobat Reader

Game 2 Box Score in PDF Format Get Acrobat Reader

DEKALB, Ill. - The Northern Illinois University softball team split its Mid-American Conference opener against Kent State dropping the first game, while coming back to take the nightcap at Mary M. Bell Field Friday.

After suffering a 9-0 loss Game One, the Huskies came back clicking on all cylinders to defeat Kent State, 7-2, in the second contest. Sophomore Morgan Bittner (Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach Poly) set the tone for the Huskies (11-19, 1-1) from the pitching circle, limiting the Golden Flashes' scoring opportunities all game long. She picked up her seventh victory of the season after holding Kent State to two runs on five hits, while striking out eight.

"Morgan came out strong from the mound," NIU head coach Lindsay Chouinard said. "That seems to be real important for us [at the start of the game]."

The defense, which had struggled the last three games, was solid in the field behind Bittner playing error-free softball. Another area that has seen its woes in the last few games, the Northern Illinois offense, came alive in Game Two. NIU scored seven runs on eight hits with two home runs on the day.

After jumping out to a 1-0 lead after one, the Huskies scored four runs on two hits and an error in the bottom of the second to extend the lead to 5-0. Kent State closed the gap to three on a two-run homer by Lauren Grimes in the top of the sixth, but NIU got those runs back in the bottom of the frame on homers by Zoe Sinner (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) and Alex Wulbecker (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Hoffman Estates). Sinner's team-leading fifth homer was a towering shot over the scoreboard in left field, while Wulbecker's shot to left center was the first career round-tripper for the freshman.

"Obviously, scoring in the first inning is a big thing," Chouinard said. "We just found ways to make adjustments."

Sinner and Andrea Colosimo (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) led the way for the Huskie offense in the second game, with each going 2-for-3. Colosimo drove in two runs, while Sinner drove in one and scored two runs.

NIU continues its five-game home stand when it welcomes Buffalo to Mary M. Bell Field for a weekend set. Saturday's game with the Bulls is scheduled for 2 p.m. with Sunday's set for 1 p.m. Fans can follow all the action live via Gametracker on NIUHuskies.com.

-NIU-

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