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TOURNAMENT CENTRAL

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Northern Illinois University softball team advanced to the title game of the N.C. State DoubleTree RDU Challenge by sweeping a pair at Dail Stadium Saturday.

Saturday’s games were quite the contrast as the Huskies (11-7) used the long ball to knock off host N.C. State, 7-3, in the first game of the day. In the first game of round robin play, No.-1 seed NIU defeated No.-4 seeded Delaware State, 2-1.

While the NIU offense varied from one game to the next, one constant in both games was pitching. Both Alex Frenz (Oakville, Mo./Oakville) and Keegan Hayes (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) were strong in the circle, helping the Huskies to victory on the day.

“Keegan and Alex both pitched phenomenal games today,” said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. “Being able to hold N.C. State to three runs and be able to just give up one run from Keegan after Delaware State beat us the previous day is a great job by both of them.”

NIU blasted two home runs in the first game of the day, with Emily Naegele (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) and Abby Howlett (South Elgin, Ill./St. Charles North) going deep. They were key homers as NIU had to rally from an early 2-0 deficit.

After leaving the bases loaded in the top of the first, the Wolfpack made NIU pay by scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame. The Huskies took the lead in the top of the third with three runs. Howlett delivered the big blow in the inning with a two run homer to left center.

Unfortunately for NIU, N.C. State tied the game in the bottom of the inning with a solo shot by Tyler Ross. However, that would be the Wolfpack’s last run in the game.

The Huskies scored a pair of runs in the top of the fifth and the top of the sixth. Dominique Greeno (Lacey, Wash./North Thurston) and Bekah Harnish (Maple Park, Ill./Burlington Central) drove in the Huskie runs in the fifth, while Naegele hit a two-run shot off the left field foul pole in the sixth, capping the scoring for NIU and in the game.

“I think we showed some great resilience, battling through some pretty questionable calls,” Sutcliffe said. “We continued to put pressure on the opponent. Once we broke through with a run and saw that we were playing with them and defensively getting off the field, I think we grabbed some momentum and kept it going.”

Frenz went the distance and improved to 5-2 on the season allowing three runs, scattering seven hits and striking out seven in seven innings.

Game two of the day was definitely a pitcher’s duel with NIU’s Hayes coming out on top. The Huskie sophomore allowed one run on four hits and three walks to improve to 4-1 on the year. She was staked to a 1-0 lead when Jenny Van Geertry (Mokena, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) hit a solo home run with two outs over the left centerfield fence.

Delaware State scratched across a run in the top of the fourth and it looked as though the game was headed into extra innings, just like the first meeting. However, the Huskies were able to mount a rally with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.

Kali Kossakowski (Elgin, Ill/St. Edward) singled to the shortstop and then stole second with Katie Lamich (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) at the plate. Lamich singled to left field, driving in Kossakowski from second for the winning run and placing NIU into the championship game.

“The first time, usually, that you actually play some bracket format is the MAC Tournament,” she said. “To be able to do this prior to that and compete to win something in a bracket is good experience for us and something we can take down the stretch.”

The Huskies will face in-state rival Loyola, the No. 3 seed, in the championship game Sunday. First pitch is set for 11:15 a.m. CT. Fans can follow all the action through live stats on gopack.com.

-NIU-