May 6, 2011

Box Score

Game One Box Score in PDF Format

Game Two Box Score in PDF Format

DEKALB, Ill. - The Northern Illinois University softball team split its doubleheader with Mid-American Conference East Division leader Miami (OH), Friday afternoon at Miami Softball Stadium.

After being no-hit in a 1-0 loss in Game One, the Huskies (24-25, 11-7) broke through against the RedHawks (29-19, 12-8) in the second game, scoring four runs on four hits and capitalizing on Miami (OH) miscues to take the Game Two, 4-1.

A four-run fifth proved to be the difference for Northern Illinois in the second game. Carly Norton (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) began the inning with a lead off single. Amanda Sheppard (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) then advanced Erika Oswald (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South), who came in to pinch run for Norton, when she reached on an error by the catcher while laying down a sacrifice bunt.

Jessica Simpson, who threw the no-hitter in the first game, came in to pitch in relief for Katie Osburn with runners at first and second and nobody out. With a second look at the RedHawk hurler, the Huskie offense had much more success.

Stephanie Tofft (Lincoln, Calif./Lincoln) coaxed a one out walk to load the bases for Andrea Colosimo (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg). Colosimo delivered with an RBI single to plate the first run of the game and give NIU a 1-0 lead. Sheppard then scored on a wild pitch to give NIU a 2-0 advantage. The big blow of the inning came off the bat of Zoe Sinner (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South), who doubled to right field to tack on two more runs.

"It was nice to see it from our seniors," said NIU head coach Lindsay Chouinard said of the Huskie offensive explosion in the fifth. "Buying into the offensive vision, swinging at the first pitch they saw. That's how they [Colosimo and Sinner] both got hits, being aggressive early in the count."

The Huskie pitching staff did a great job today, allowing two runs, one earned, on 14 hits in 13 innings in the two games. Tofft allowed one run while scattering six hits in three innings of work, while Nicole Gremillion (Missouri City, Texas/Elkins) allowed one hit in three innings of work in Game One.

Morgan Bittner (Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach Poly) went the distance in the second game, allowing one unearned run on seven hits, striking out three and not walking a batter to pick up the win.

"Steph did a good job getting out of tough situations early. I don't think she was necessarily feeling her best on the mound today, but Nicole and Morgan did a great job stepping up and helping her out," Chouinard said of the Huskie pitching staff. "It's nice to know that we have people around that can go in and work innings for us and be successful."

The Huskies return to the diamond tomorrow when Northern Illinois travels to Muncie, Ind. to face Ball State. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. Central Time.

-NIU-