April 15, 2011

Box Score

Box Score in PDF Format

DEKALB, Ill. - The Northern Illinois University softball team suffered a 7-2 loss to Ohio in the first game of a scheduled doubleheader Friday afternoon at Mary M. Bell Field.

"We didn't finish the game," said NIU head coach Lindsay Chouinard. "We're five outs away from a victory, defensively and from the mound, you can't finish."

The second game was cancelled due to inclement weather. It will not be made up.

After trailing much of the game 1-0, the Huskies (16-19, 6-3) broke through in the fifth inning with two runs to claim the lead. Dani Parrish (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) began the rally with a double to left center and advanced to third on an Andrea Colosimo (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) single up the middle.

Parrish scored the tying run on a wild pitch and Erika Oswald (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South), who came in to pinch run for Colosimo, took second base to move into scoring position. After a ground out moved Oswald to third, Jennifer Barnett (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) drove in the go-ahead run on a double to left field.

However, Ohio (15-16, 4-3) responded with six runs in the top of the sixth to break the game open. Bobcat pitcher Emily Wethington and the Ohio defense shut the Huskies down for the final two innings to take the victory.

Stephanie Tofft (Lincoln, Calif./Lincoln) extended her school-record hitting streak to 25 games with a single in the first inning. She went 2-for-3 on the day, as did Parrish.

"She was on three out of four times," Chouinard said of Parrish. "She did a good job leading off innings a few times and scored the first run of the game for us. That's exactly what you want your lead-off hitter to do."

Northern Illinois returns to the diamond Saturday when the Huskies welcome Akron to Mary M. Bell Field. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. Fans can follow all the action live, via Gametracker at NIUHuskies.com.

-NIU-