April 30, 2010

Box Score

Game One Box Score in PDF Format

Game Two Box Score in PDF Format

DEKALB, Ill. - The Northern Illinois University softball team dropped a pair of extra inning heartbreakers to division-leading Ball State Friday afternoon at Mary M. Bell Field.

NIU pushed the Cardinals to 10 innings in Game One, falling 10-7, while extending the second game to an extra frame before losing 7-6. The Huskie (20-30, 8-8) offense came up big today, pounding out 26 hits, 13 in both games, and scored 13 runs. However, Ball State (34-13, 12-4) answered every NIU rally to come away with the series win.

"The offense did a good job today," NIU head coach Lindsay Chouinard said. "We had 13 hits in the second game and double digit hits in the first game. For our defense and pitching, that should be enough.

Leading the way for Northern Illinois were second baseman Andrea Colosimo (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) and catcher Adriana Sanchez (San Fernando, Calif./Alemany). Colosimo went 5-for-8 on the day with a home run, three runs batted in and two runs scored, while Sanchez was 5-for-9, including two home runs in Game Two, with three RBIs and two runs scored.

The Huskies scored first in both games with Zoe Sinner (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) opening the scoring in the first game on a solo homer to left field. That home run, her 10th of the season, tied NIU's all-time record for round trippers in a season. Ball State responded with a run in the third, three in the fourth and one more in the sixth to take a 5-1 lead. NIU came back with two runs in the sixth and a pair in the seventh to force the game into extras.

With the game tied 6-6 heading into the 10th, the Cardinals turned in a four-spot and never looked back. NIU mustered one more run in the bottom of the inning, but could not force the game into an 11th inning.

Sanchez gave NIU and starting pitcher Morgan Bittner (Long Beach Calif./Long Beach Poly) a 2-0 cushion in the bottom of the second with a two-run homer to left field to drive in Colosimo, who led off the inning with a double. Unfortunately, it would be short lived as the Cardinals scored two in the top of the third. Ball State added a run in the fourth and two in the fifth to take a 5-2 lead.

However, the Huskies would not back down. NIU scored a run in the fifth and Sanchez hit her second homer of the game in the sixth to pull Northern Illinois to within one. Ball State extended the lead to two on a solo home run by Amanda Montalto in the top of the seventh. Again, the Huskies responded, scoring two runs in the bottom inning to tie the game, 6-6.

"Of course, there were many other opportunities that they could have scored and put the dagger in us," Chouinard said." But the offense did their job and did what we asked them to do. We hope that resiliency is there the rest of the year."

Ball State scored the game-winning run in the top of the eighth when Alyssa Collins reached on an error driving in Jessie Ware from third.

Northern Illinois University returns action Saturday when the Huskies welcome Miami. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. Fans can follow all the action live via Gametracker at NIUHuskies.com. Fans are encouraged to come out to the Yordon Center before Saturday's game for "Picnic in the Park" starting at 11:30 a.m. Fans are encouraged to bring their grills, favorite food and beverages for a cookout and head out to the front lawn of the Yordon Center.

-NIU-