Final Stats

NIU 8-BGSU 0 Box Score 

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – A four-run first inning keyed Northern Illinois University softball’s five-inning 8-0 win over Bowling Green in the Mid-American Conference opener for both schools at Meserve Field Friday.

NIU (20-7, 1-0) actually posted a pair of four-run innings in its league-opening victory over Bowling Green (12-16, 0-1). The Huskies also put up a four spot in the fourth inning as well helping extend their season-long winning streak to 12 games.

“The hitters came in with a game plan and they stuck to it,” said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. “They were able and got on the starting pitcher really early. They eventually settled in against Bowling Green’s relief pitcher.”

Kayti Grable (Santee, Calif./Santana) led the way for an NIU offense that pounded out 13 hits going 3-for-3, including her second homer of the season, with three RBIs and two runs scored.

“Kayti is getting back to the old Kayti,” Sutcliffe said. “She settled in. She has some confidence about her. She’s spraying the ball around and putting it in play.”

Starter Alex Frenz (Oakville, Mo./Oakville) turned in another solid outing in the circle. The Huskie freshman recorded her fifth complete game and second shutout of the season allowing three hits and two walks, while striking out two in a five innings.

“She got in trouble early on in innings,” she said. “It was a good start for her in conference season. Hopefully we thrive off of that the rest of the weekend.”

Frenz was never in any real trouble during the game. She pitched out of a jam in the first inning when Bowling Green had runners at first and third with two outs, coaxing a groundout that ended the inning.

Katie Lamich (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) opened the day’s scoring when she doubled in Kali Kossakowski (Elgin, Ill/St. Edward) who led off the first inning with a single to left and advanced to second on a throwing error by the Falcon left fielder. Lamich then scored on an RBI single to center from Grable.

A bases loaded walk by Bekah Harnish (Maple Park, Ill./Burlington Central) gave NIU a 3-0 advantage. With the bases loaded and two outs, Jessica Rio (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield East) singled to score Emily Naegele (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) from third to give NIU a 4-0 lead before the Falcons came to the plate.

That would be all the offense Frenz, who stayed out of trouble much of the game, would need. She pitched out of a jam in the first inning when Bowling Green had runners at first and third with two outs, coaxing a groundout that ended the inning.

A two-run home run by Grable in the fourth began another four-run rally for the Huskies. With runners on second and third, Alaynie Woollard (New Castle, Ind./New Castle) drove in Naegele from third with a sacrifice fly to centerfield. Harnish then drove in Jenny Van Geertry (Mokena, Ill./Lincoln-Way East), who advanced to third on Wollard’s sac fly, when she singled to right. Frenz made the lead stick, shutting down the Falcon offense in the final two innings.

The Huskies resumes its series with Bowling Green with a doubleheader Saturday. First pitch for game one is set for 12 p.m. CT with the second game to follow. Live stats will be available on bgsufalcons.com.

-NIU-