Final Stats

NIU 10-Campbell 1 

NIU 5-Campbell 4 

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The Northern Illinois University softball team extended its winning streak to six as the Huskies swept Campbell in a doubleheader at Littlejohn Stadium Tuesday.

“Our pitching staff did really well, keeping Campbell under control,” said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. “Obviously, the offense played well in the first game.

“Jordyn provided us a spark in the second game. We were able to fight through it from there. We had a couple mishaps in that sixth inning, but we were able to settle back in and do what we needed to do to win the game.”

NIU (14-7) opened the day with a 10-1 victory and held on for a 5-4 win in game two. Senior Emily Naegele (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) and junior Kali Kossakowski (Elgin, Ill/St. Edward) led the way for the Huskies.

Kossakowski went 5-for-8, including a 4-for-4 four RBI performance in game one, with five runs scored from the leadoff spot. Naegele posted a 4-for-7 afternoon, five RBIs, four in the first game, and two runs scored from the clean-up spot. Both Huskies also went yard with Kossakowski hitting a home run in game one and Naegele in the second.

“They’ve always been pretty consistent,” Sutcliffe said of Kossakowski and Naegele. “Naegele’s obviously having a great year. They can provide a spark for us at any time.”

The Huskies scored early and often in the opener, taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. With two on and one out a Naegele single cleared the bases. NIU added another run when Kossakowski singled to center and quickly stole second. The Huskie shortstop took third on a wild pitch. A bunt single by Katie Lamich (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) scored Kossakowski.

After a one out home run by Kossakowski gave NIU a 4-0 lead, the Huskies scored two more runs in the top of the sixth to take a 6-0 lead. The Huskies took a 10-0 advantage after putting up a four-spot in the seventh, with Naegele providing the big pop with a two-run single.

Alex Frenz (Oakville, Mo./Oakville) was effective from the circle, allowing one run on five hits. She improved to 6-2 on the season.

In game two, the Huskies had enough offense and pitching to overcome some shoddy defense to pull out an extra inning victory. NIU committed four errors in the game, including two in a four-run sixth for the Camels.

NIU opened up a 4-0 advantage with a run in the third and three in the sixth, and the Huskies did it with the long ball. Jordyn Bowen (Libertyville, Ill./Grayslake) led off the inning with a homer to right field to open the game’s scoring. Jenny Van Geertry (Mokena, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) and Naegele went back-to-back in the sixth. After Van Geertry hit a two-run shot to left center, Naegele drove a solo blast to center.

However, the Camels rallied with a four spot in the bottom of the sixth, helped by a pair of Huskie errors. Neither team was able to plate a run in the seventh inning sending the game into extras.

The Huskies were able to put pressure on the Camel defense in the top of the eighth. With the bases loaded and two outs, Bekah Harnish (Maple Park, Ill./Burlington Central) reached on an error by the Campbell shortstop scored Caitlyn Warren (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) from third, who reached on an error by the pitcher.

Tara Thacker (Uniontown, Ohio/North Canton Hoover) came in to pitch the eighth with one on and out. Thacker retired the next two batters to pick up the win and give NIU the sweep.

The Huskies are back in action Friday when NIU travels to Greensboro, N.C. to compete in the Blue/Gold Challenge. The Huskies open the tournament against Robert Morris with first pitch set for 9 a.m. CT.

-NIU-