Final Stats

NIU-TSU Box Score 

PHOENIX – The Northern Illinois University softball team wrapped up play at the GCU Invitational with a late-game rally to defeat Texas State, 8-6, at Stapelton-Pierson Stadium Sunday.

Trailing, 6-5, heading into the top of the seventh, the Huskies (6-4) plated three runs in the inning. Keegan Hayes (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central), who came in to pitch in the bottom of the sixth, retired the side in the seventh to seal the fourth win of the tournament for NIU, and the third straight for the Huskies.

“It was good to see her come out and pitch that seventh inning,” said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. “We had trouble all day with the first batter and she was able to get that first batter. It made it easy for us to get three up and three down.”

The Huskie seventh began promising with back-to-back walks by Kayti Grable (Santee, Calif./Santana) and Emily Naegele (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest). After a Bobcat pitching change, Allaynie Woollard (New Castle, Ind./New Castle) doubled to right center, plating Grable and Naegele and giving NIU a 7-6 advantage.

A one-out single by Jordyn Bowen (Libertyville, Ill./Grayslake) scored Woollard to give NIU an insurance run and an 8-6 lead heading into the bottom of the inning. Hayes induced a pair of Bobcat groundouts and a strike out to improve her record to 3-0.

“I think that was a big deal for us,” Sutcliffe said. “We came out early with a big lead and watch it disappear. We didn’t panic at the plate and ended up pulling ahead in the seventh.”

NIU had command much of the game. The Huskies took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third off a two-run homer by Bekah Harnish (Maple Park, Ill./Burlington Central). With the score 2-1 in the top of the fifth, NIU tacked on three more runs. A RBI double by Grable and RBI singles by Jenny Van Geertry (Mokena, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) and Dominique Greeno (Lacey, Wash./North Thurston) gave the Huskies a 5-1 lead.

Unfortunately for NIU, Texas State rallied to put up a five spot in the bottom of the sixth. However, the Huskies responded in the seventh both offensively and in the field to pick up the win.

“Our offense really got into a groove,” she said of NIU’s performance over the weekend. “We had a lot of different contributors. I think 1-9 found a way to get it done. If they can continue to do that, then we can make up some errors we’re making in the field.”

The Huskies return to action Friday, when NIU opens play in the Cancer Awareness Tournament hosted by Saint Louis. The Huskie will face UMKC and first pitch is set for 5 p.m. CT.

-NIU-