Final Stats

DEKALB, Ill. -- The Northern Illinois University softball team opened its final home weekend in style Friday, sweeping Eastern Michigan in a MAC West doubleheader.

The Huskies (25-19, 9-5 MAC) got four home runs on the day against the Eagles (15-27, 4-9 MAC), including two from Kayti Grable in game two that put her in a tie for most single-season home runs in program history.

"It's huge," said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. "If we can do well on Sunday and put ourselves in a position to relax in those final games and work for some positioning in the tournament, that's ultimately what we're trying to do."

Game One: Huskies Edge Eagles, 5-3

NIU got out to a fast start and held on for a 5-3 win against Eastern Michigan in game one.

The Huskies struck early with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first, while back-to-back homers from Allyson Hecht (Huntington Beach, Calif./Edison) and Caitlyn Warren (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) gave NIU the lead for good.

The Huskies grabbed an early lead in the bottom of the first. Bryanna Phelan (Coal City, Ill./Coal City) led off with a walk, while Kayti Grable (Santee, Calif./Santana) was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with one out. Two batters later, Bekah Harnish (Maple Park, Ill./Burlington Central) dropped a single over third base to bring in Phelan, while an error in left field allowed Grable to score for a 2-0 lead.

EMU answered in the top of the second with three runs. Brandice Olmos brought in the first run with a double to left-center, while Haley Hostetler tied the game with a bloop single into centerfield. Moments later, an errant throw on an attempt to catch Hostetler stealing went into the outfield, allowing Elaine Whitbeck to come home for a 3-2 Eagle lead.

NIU regained the lead in the bottom half of the frame. Hecht tied the game with a solo home run to left-center, while Warren made it back-to-back jacks with a solo shot of her own to nearly the same spot to make it a 4-3 Huskie advantage.

Meanwhile, pitcher Keegan Hayes (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) limited the EMU offense from there. The freshman allowed just two hits and a walk over the final five frames, including three perfect innings in the fifth, sixth and seventh.

The Huskies added another run in the bottom of the fifth. Grable reached base with two outs on a single, then Emily Naegele (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) lined a ball into centerfield that, thanks to a misplay by EMU centerfielder Jenn Lucas, turned into a triple for a 5-3 NIU edge.



Game Two: Grable Ties School Record as NIU Downs EMU, 5-2

Sophomore Kayti Grable hit two home runs and tied the single-season home run record as the Huskies defeated the Eagles, 5-2.

With her 10th and 11th homers of the year, the Santee, California, native tied Zoe Sinner (2010) for most dingers in a season by a Huskies.

"It's fun for her," Sutcliffe said of Grable's record. "Records mean something to her when it's all said and done, but in the moment, that's not what she's thinking about or even concerned about. Anytime you're setting a record for NIU, it's going to be proud moment."

NIU got out to a 1-0 lead after one. After Bryanna Phelan and Kali Kossakowski (Elgin, Ill./St. Edward) reached on an error and single, respectively, Grable brought in the first run of the game with a groundout.

The Huskies made it a two-run contest in the following frame. Jessica Sturm (Wichita, Kan./Goddard) got into scoring position with a standup triple down the right field line. Moments later, Allyson Hecht sliced a single past second base to bring home Sturm and make it 2-0 Huskies.

Grable struck again in the third, this time with a home run off the scoreboard in left field to make it 3-0. The sophomore made it two homers when she cleared the scoreboard in the fifth and pushed the Huskie lead to 4-0.

EMU avoided the shutout and cut the Huskie lead in half in the sixth. Haley Hostetler reached base on a hit by pitch, while Michelle Kriegshauser doubled to put two runners in scoring position. Lindsay Rich pushed both runners across with a triple to make it a 4-2 ballgame.

Yet, NIU got one run back in the bottom of the sixth. Sturm led off with a single, then moved to second on a throwing error and third on a wild pitch. After a pair of groundouts, Phelan got Sturm home with a single into centerfield for a 5-2 game.

The Eagles threatened to tie the game in the seventh, putting a pair of runners in scoring position. However, Alaynie Woollard (New Castle, Ind./New Castle) made a sensational play at third, snagging a sharp liner out of the air with a leaping grab to keep EMU off the board and preserve the win.

The Huskies cap off the weekend Sunday, April 26, with a Senior Day doubleheader against Central Michigan. Game one is set to start at noon.