Final Stats

DEKALB, Ill. - The Northern Illinois University softball team had a great defensive showing Thursday, but ultimately lost a 3-0 game to North Dakota State.

Pitchers Keegan Hayes (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) and Jessica Sturm (Wichita, Kan./Goddard) combined to hold the Bison (20-5) to just three runs and four hits. However, NDSU hurler Jacquelyn Sertic held the Huskies (12-13) to one hit and two walks in the loss.

"We played well. We put a good game together and we pitched really well, pitched well enough to win," said NIU Head Coach Christina Sutcliffe. "We just didn't play our best game and we weren't able to get a hit when we needed it."

Hayes and Sertic traded scoreless frames to start. For Hayes, she held the Bison to just one walk over the first three innings to keep the Huskies within striking distance. However, Sertic equaled that by limiting NIU to just one walk over the first three innings.

NDSU broke the stalemate in the fourth when Alyssa Reina lifted a hit over the left field fence for a lead-off solo home run and a 1-0 Bison lead. Yet, Hayes kept her composure and got the next three NDSU batters out in order.

Though the Huskie defense kept it close, the offense was unable to get something going. Emily Naegele (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) looked to provide a spark in the fourth with a single into center field, but was left stranded on the base paths.

Conversely, the Bison added two more runs in the sixth. After Sturm replaced Hayes in the circle following a sharp single down the left field line, a walk and a single loaded the bases for NDSU. Maritza Lopez-Portillo brought in one run with a sacrifice fly to center. Moments later, Reina scored from third on a double steal, but NIU's defense got out of the inning when Naegele successfully picked off Amanda Grable.

NIU put up one last fight in the bottom of the seventh. Kayti Grable (Santee, Calif./Santana) reached on an error to start things, but a double play quickly put the Huskies down to their final out. Bekah Harnish (Maple Park, Ill./Burlington Central) kept the rally alive with a walk, but didn't make it to home plate as NDSU ended the game on a groundout.

The Huskies return to action Wednesday, March 25, with a game against in-state rival Illinois State. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. at ISU's Marian Kneer Stadium.