Game Two Box Score in PDF Format 
MACOMB, Ill. - The Northern Illinois softball team split its doubleheader Tuesday at Western Illinois.
Despite falling 11-1 in Game One, the Huskie bats came to life in Game Two as NIU (21-21) rolled to a 10-7 win. Stephanie Tofft (Lincoln, Calif./Lincoln) led the team with her play both at the plate and in the circle. After allowing two runs in the first inning of Game Two, the freshman held the Leathernecks scoreless during the ensuing four frames, giving up only two hits and a walk.
Despite a late rally by the home team, Tofft held on for the complete game victory, her second win in the past week. At the plate, she went 4-for-5 with three runs and an RBI.
"Steph obviously did a good job hitting the top part of the plate, and she stepped up and did a good job from the mound in the second game and closed it out," said NIU head coach Lindsay Chouinard. "When the bats come out early and score a lot of runs and the pitcher gets her job done, that's how you win games."
Tofft led off the second game with a single to center, extending her school-record hitting streak to 32 games. Two batters later, Amanda Sheppard (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) brought Tofft in with a single through the right side. Carly Norton (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) reached on a bunt in the following at-bat, and advanced to second on a throwing error, allowing Dani Parrish (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) to score from third. Sheppard capped off the scoring in the first inning, coming home on a sacrifice fly by Alexandra Wulbecker (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Hoffman Estates).
After going scoreless in the second inning and taking a 3-2 into the third, the Huskies found their stride, scoring at least one run in each of the final five innings.
Along with Tofft at the top, the middle of the order was the difference as Sheppard went 2-4 with a pair of RBIs and a run, while Carly Norton provided three hits and a run.
"I moved Amanda Sheppard and Carly Norton into the three and four slots in the lineup today and they executed," Chouinard said of the duo's production. "That's what you're asking for out of the middle of your lineup. They did a good job today hitting in a lot of runners."
Andrea Colosimo (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) also came up with a key two-run double in the sixth inning to extend the Huskie lead to seven, her lone hit of the game.
Northern Illinois is back in action on Thursday for a senior day doubleheader against Loyola at Mary M. Bell Field. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. CT.
-NIU-
