Final Stats

DEKALB, Ill. -- The Northern Illinois University softball team closed out its home conference schedule Sunday with a doubleheader split of Central Michigan.

The Huskies (26-20, 10-6 MAC) held the Chippewas (22-19, 10-6 MAC) in check in game one en route to a 2-1 win, but suffered a 10-7 loss in game two.

"Going 3-1 this weekend is definitely a big deal for us," said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. "IT puts us in position to just go out and play and get some information next weekend and just start preparing for the MAC Tournament."

Game One: Huskies Clip Chippewas, 2-1

A pitcher's duel in game one went NIU's way, as the Huskies picked up a 2-1 win over Central Michigan.

After being honored as one of five seniors on the squad, Jessica Sturm (Wichita, Kan./Goddard) was sensational in the circle, allowing just two hits and one run while striking out six in a complete game effort.

"Jess did an awesome job, especially after seeing what they did in the second game offensively," Sutcliffe said. "She did a great job of jamming them up and getting off the field. Our defense made some key plays. Kali (Kossakowski) had a phenomenal game at shortstop."

NIU snagged the lead in the bottom of the second with two runs. Allyson Hecht (Huntington Beach, Calif./Edison) got the Huskies on the board with a hard-hit double off the wall in right that allowed Bekah Harnish (Maple Park, Ill./Burlington Central) from first for a 1-0 lead. One batter later, fellow senior Kaitlyn Barrett (Monticello, Ill./Monticello) brought Hecht home on a bunt to make it 2-0 Huskies.

However, the Chippewas trimmed that lead in half in the fourth for a 2-1 Huskie lead. Down 1-2 in the count with two outs, Katelyn Rentschler knocked a solo home run over the wall in left. That was the only blemish in Sturm's day. Over the final three frames, the Wichita, Kansas, native struck out three Chippewas and held the CMU lineup without a baserunner.

The Huskies nearly added some insurance runs in the sixth. An Alaynie Woollard (New Castle, Ind./New Castle) walk put runners on first and second with two out, but CMU got a flyout to end the threat. In the seventh, Sturm mowed through the Chippewa lineup with a pair of groundouts and a popout.



Game Two: CMU Offense Too Much for NIU, 10-7

A five-run fourth proved to be the difference in game two, as the Chippewas dealt the Huskies a 10-7 defeat to close the Sunday twinbill.

Despite getting RBIs from six different players -- including a home run from Allyson Hecht -- NIU allowed CMU to score race out to a 4-0 lead, then retake the lead with the five-spot in the fourth.

"Game two, we didn't do the little things," Sutcliffe said. "We did a lot of things wrong with first and third with some stealing going on. Just some cuts in the outfield, as well. We'll go back to the drawing board and work on it a little on this last day of practice. We'll clean it up. We'll be alright."

The Chippewas opened the scoring in the top of the first. Following a fielder's choice, Trista Cox stole second, then moved to third on a throwing error. Katelyn Rentschler made the Huskies pay with a single into right field to score Cox. CMU proceeded to load the bases, but NIU got out of the inning with Kali Kossakowski's (Elgin, Ill./St. Edward) flip to Alaynie Woollard at third for the third out.

CMU pushed its lead to 4-0 in the second. Two walks and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for Kristen Kuhlman, who made it count by knocking in two runs with a single to right field. Rentschler put the fourth run up on the board with a sacrifice fly, scoring Lacy Tolfree.

The Huskies battled back to tie the game in the bottom of the third. Bryanna Phelan (Coal City, Ill./Coal City) led off with a triple, while Kayti Grable (Santee, Calif./Santana) brought her home with a run-scoring single down the line in left field. An Emily Naegele (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) single and a Bekah Harnish walk loaded the bases for Alaynie Woollard. Woollard made CMU pay with a two-RBI single into center field, getting NIU within 4-3. Jessica Sturm tied the game with a single to right to plate Harnish.

Yet, the Chippewas retook the lead in the top of the fourth, batting around while scoring five times for a 9-4 advantage. Trista Cox broke the tie with a three-run home run to deep center field for a 7-4 CMU edge, chasing NIU pitcher Keegan Hayes (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) in the process. A walk and a single later, Karly Hansen added two more for the Chippewas with a two-run double to make it a 9-4 contest.

NIU chipped away at the CMU lead in the bottom half with two tallies. Phelan started things with a one-out single, while Kossakowski scored the senior with a RBI triple to right-center. Two batters later, Naegele got the Huskies within 9-6 on an infield single that scored Kossakowski.

One inning later, the Huskies moved to within 9-7. With quick two outs on the board, Hecht went yard with a solo homer to right-center for her second roundtripper of the weekend and the season. However, CMU got that run back in the sixth to make it 10-7, as Maison Kalina brought home a run on a fielder's choice.

The Huskies had a chance to make up those three runs in the sixth and seventh. However, CMU reliever Rachael Knapp denied the Huskies with three strikeouts and three popouts to give the visitors the win.

The Huskies wrap up their 2015 home schedule Wednesday, April 29, when they host the UIC Flames at 5 p.m. at Mary M. Bell Field.