Final Stats

ORLANDO, Fla. - Facing one of the nation's top teams, the Northern Illinois University softball team dropped both halves of a doubleheader Wednesday at #20 UCF.

In the first game, the Huskies' (8-11) comeback came up short against the Knights (21-4), while UCF used a big fourth inning to claim a 6-1 victory in game two.

"Any time we can play quality opponents, it makes us better," said NIU Head Coach Christina Sutcliffe. "Our pitching did pretty well. Our offense in the first game was really patient, disciplined and fouled off a lot of pitches. Our defense, they put the ball in play and we weren't able to make the plays to get off the field. When you're playing those top teams, you can't do that. You have to keep them to three outs or else they'll make you pay for it."

Game One: NIU Rally Falls Short in Game One

A late comeback fell short for the Huskies in the first half of the twinbill, as UCF took a 4-2 victory.

Kali Kossakowski (Elgin, Ill./St. Edward) registered two RBIs for NIU in the contest, but the Knights' pitching combo of Mackenzie Audas and Jamie Ujvari limited the Huskies' offense.

"Honestly, they stayed disciplined early and made the pitcher throw a lot of pitches," Sutcliffe said. "They were able to see a lot of what she had and made adjustments from at-bat to at-bat and they did a really good job of that."

UCF got on the board first in the bottom half of the first inning. After Kahley Novak advanced to second on an error, Farrah Sullivan's single to first scored Novak and put the Knights out to an early 1-0 lead. However, the Huskies got out of the frame with a 5-4-3 double play.

The hosts added to their lead in the ensuing frame when Kalyn Cenal hit a leadoff, solo home run to extend UCF's lead to 2-0. Moments later, the Knights managed to load the bases with no outs. Maddy Schroeder's fielder's choice RBI scored UCF's third run of the game, but a play at the plate during the next at-bat, a strikeout and a pickoff by Emily Naegele (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) to third base prevented the Knights from extending their lead.

Despite struggling against Audas in the first half of the game, the Huskies broke through in the fourth. Naegele reached base on a hit by pitch to open the frame, then advanced to second on Caitlyn Warren's sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, Kossakowski singled home Naegele to cut the UCF lead to 3-1.

The two-run deficit once again became a three-run one in the bottom of the fourth, though, when Samantha McCloskey launched a solo shot over the right field fence for a 4-1 contest.

Undeterred, the Huskies put together a late-inning rally. Naegele started the comeback attempt with a double. Warren's walk and an Alaynie Woollard sac bunt put runners on second and third with one out. That's when Kossakowski again came through with a grounder to the shortstop to score Naegele and trim the score to 4-2.

The upset threat continued into the seventh for the Huskies, as Bryanna Phelan (Coal City, Ill./Coal City) led off with a single. Though a fielder's choice put Phelan out at second, Kayti Grable (Santee, Calif./Santana) followed up with a single through the left side to put two on with one out. UCF, though, managed to get the last two outs.

Game Two: Big Fourth Inning Sinks NIU in 6-1 Loss

NIU hung close with UCF in the second game, only to have a four-run fourth inning unravel any hopes of an upset in a 6-1 loss.

Kayti Grable's fifth-inning sacrifice fly plated Kali Kossakowski, but another solid pitching performance from Mackenzie Audas kept the Huskie offense at bay.

"We had a couple opportunities to get off the field and, defensively, we couldn't make the play to do it," Sutcliffe said. "Give credit to their offense. That's why they are ranked is because they are going to put the ball in play and work around whatever defense you're playing. Their pitchers are ranked for a reason."

The Huskies threatened to take the lead in the top of the first, as Bryanna Phelan opened the game with a walk. Two Phelan steals and an Emily Naegele walk later, NIU had runners on first and third with two outs, but could not put a run on the board.

Conversely, UCF opened its half of the first with a leadoff double from Linnea Goodman. Goodman advanced to third on a sac bunt from Kahley Novak, then scored on Courtney Rotton's sac fly. The Knights looked primed to add to their lead with two outs and a runner on third, but pitcher Keegan Hayes (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) snagged a sharp line drive over her head to end the inning. Two innings later, the Knights made it a 2-0 contest when Farrah Sullivan hit a home run over the right field fence.

After going hitless over the first three innings, the Huskies got their first base hit with Jessica Sturm's (Wichita, Kan./Goddard) one-out single in the fourth. With runners on first and second, though, Audas got the next two Huskies to strike out and keep NIU off the board.

The Knights seized control in the bottom half with four runs on four hits and an error. Jessica Ujvari led off with a solo home run to left center, while two walks and a single loaded the bases with one out. Rotton walked to force home another run and singles from Kalyn Cenal and Brittany Solis each plated one run.

Kossakowski's bunt single opened NIU's side of the fifth, while Phelan reached on an error and Bekah Harnish (Maple Park, Ill./Burlington Central) walked to load the bases for Grable. The sophomore lofted a high fly ball into right field that was deep enough for Kossakowski to tag up and put the Huskies on the board.

The Huskies spring break trip wraps up this weekend with the USF Michelle Smith Spring Break Tournament in Clearwater, Florida. NIU plays Purdue and Yale Friday, Canisius and Quinnipiac Saturday and UMass Lowell on Sunday.