Final Stats

FAMU-NIU Box Score 

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Northern Illinois University softball team scored a 9-0 shutout of Florida A&M on the final day of the FAU “Strike-Out” Cancer Tournament hosted by Florida Atlantic Sunday.

“I think their pitcher struggled with control early on and we were able to stay patient,” said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. “I think we were just a lot more patient today and swinging at pitches we needed to be swinging at. We got the better clutch hit today.”

The Huskies (2-3) opened the day’s scoring with a five-run first inning before capping it with a three-run fourth. The middle of the NIU line up did most of the damage with batters three thru six going 3-for-6 with four RBIs and five runs scored.

“The middle of our order is pretty tough to get out, especially the third time through the line up,” Sutcliffe said. “I think it’s tough. They’re all covering for each other. We expecting big things out of the middle of that line up.”

While the middle of the order provided the pop, Abby Howlett delivered the big blow in the eight hole.

NIU had some timely hitting and capitalized on a pair of errors in the top of the first. Kali Kossakowski (Elgin, Ill./St. Edward), the Huskie lead off hitter, reached on a Rattler error and then promptly stole second base. Kossakowski scored on a Kayti Grable (Santee, Calif./Santana) single. Grable advanced to second when the ball was mishandled by the center fielder.

Three Huskies coaxed walks to drive in Grable and leave the bases loaded for Howlett. The Huskie freshman hit a three-run double to give NIU a 5-0 lead to blow the game wide open for NIU. Howlett finished the day 1-for-2 with a walk and three RBIs.

NIU added to its lead in the top of the second. Kossakowski who led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a FAMU error, scored on a wild pitch to give NIU a 6-0 advantage. Kossakowski was 1-for-3 with two runs scored in the leadoff spot.

Emily Naegele (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) continued her hot start to the season. In the top of the fourth with Grable on first and two outs, Naegele blasted a two-run homer. It was her second homer of the season. The Huskie senior went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored on the day. Alaynie Wollard (New Castle, Ind./New Castle) went yard as well, hitting her second homer of the weekend too to end NIU’s scoring for the day.

Huskie starting pitcher Tara Thacker (Uniontown, Ohio/North Canton Hoover) was solid in the circle. Thacker went four innings, allowing four hits, three walks while striking out three. Emma Ray (Verona, Wis./Verona West) came in in the fifth and pitched a clean inning.

The Huskies return to action Friday, Feb. 26 when NIU travels to Phoenix, Ariz. to compete in the Grand Canyon University Invitational. The Huskies open the tournament with Texas State. First pitch is set for 10 a.m. CT.

-NIU-