April 24, 2011

 

Box Score

 

 

 

Box Score in PDF Format

 

DEKALB, Ill. - The Northern Illinois University softball team's bats came alive in a 13-4 victory over Mid-American Conference foe Toledo Sunday afternoon at Mary M. Bell Field.

The Huskies (20-20, 10-4) pounded out 13 hits on the afternoon, led by Andrea Colosimo (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) and Amanda Sheppard (Oak Forrest, Ill./Oak Forrest). Colosimo went 3-for-4 on the day with three RBIs and three runs scored, while Sheppard produced a game-high four RBIs and a run scored.

Stephanie Tofft (Lincoln, Calif./Lincoln), who picked up her first collegiate save pitching three scoreless innings of relief, was 2-for-2 with two runs batted in and three runs scored and extended her school record hitting streak to 30 games. Nicole Gremillion (Missouri City, Texas/Elkins) improved her record to 6-3 pitching the first three innings, allowing four runs on six hits.

"The really big difference in today's game was that Steph came in and finished," said NIU head coach Lindsay Chouinard of Tofft's performance in the circle. "Steph came in yesterday, she was nervous and let them back in the game. Today, we had a one-run lead and she held it the whole time and let the offense relax and do what they needed to do."

Toledo (8-31, 3-9) took an early 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the first, however NIU came back with two in the bottom of the inning. Sheppard gave NIU the lead for good when Sheppard hit a three-run homer over the center field fence with two outs to give the Huskies a 5-2 lead. The Rockets did cut the deficit to one with two runs in the third, but that would be as close as they would get.

NIU would tack on five runs in the fifth with a pair of two-run doubles by Jennifer Barnett (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) and Tofft, as well as a RBI double from Sheppard to take a 10-4 advantage. Colosimo ended the contest with a three-run to center field.

"Amanda did a great job," Chouinard said. "She's been doing a much better job fielding the ball and being consistent in the field. Coming through with clutch hits, she's obviously bought into the process. That's what we love about her."

Northern Illinois returns to action Tuesday when the Huskies travel to Western Illinois for a make of last week's cancelled doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

-NIU-