Final Stats

SLU-NIU Box Score 

ST. LOUIS – The Northern Illinois University softball team dropped its finale of the Cancer Awareness Tournament to host Saint Louis, 12-7, at the Billiken Sports Center Sunday.

The big inning by the Billikens plagued NIU (8-6) all game long. Unfortunately, the Huskies helped Saint Louis by committing three errors, including two in a costly top of the second.

“Our defense just wasn’t able to make a play to get off the field,” said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe.

Leading, 3-1, after the Billikens put up a three spot in the top of the first, Saint Louis added to its lead with a five run second. The inning began ominously for NIU as the Billiken lead-off batter Emma Buckles reached first on a Huskie error by the and advanced to second on the play. Buckles scored two batter later on a single to center.

Following a base on balls, Saint Louis began to string together some hits. With runners on first and second, another Billiken single plated the second run of the inning and gave Saint Louis a 5-1 advantage. Leading 6-1 with the bases loaded and two outs, another self-inflicted wound by the Huskies scored a fourth Billiken run in the inning. Hailey Weavers was hit by a pitch, to drive in a runner from third. Saint Louis scored its final run of the inning when Buckles reached on another Huskie error to score Brianna Lore from third.

NIU mounted a comeback in the bottom of the fourth, platting four runs to pull within three runs. The Huskie rally began when Emily Naegele (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest), who reached on a Billiken error and advanced all the way to third to begin the inning, scored on an Abby Howlett (South Elgin, Ill./St. Charles North) single.

NIU scored two more runs on an Alaynie Woollard (New Castle, Ind./New Castle) single with runners at second and third with one out. Woollard, who advanced to third on a wild pitch, scored on a Mykaela Arellanes (Foristell, Mo./Holt) single.

The Huskies pulled to within a run in the bottom of the fifth, scoring a pair of runs. Jenny Van Geertry (Mokena, Ill/Lincoln-Way East) began the inning with a one-out single, and Howlett moved her to second on a single to center. Van Geertry, who advanced to third on a fielder’s choice, stole home to make the score 8-6. Woollard tripled to center to drive in Bekah Harnish (Maple Park, Ill./Burlington Central) to cap the inning’s scoring for NIU.

However, Saint Louis responded with a four-run sixth to take a 12-7 lead. The NIU offense was unable to mount another rally in either of the final two innings and the Huskies suffered their second loss of the weekend.

“Our offense definitely capable of coming back from any deficit within a game,” Sutcliffe said. “I think they know that. I was nice to it today to give them a little confidence. We just need to continue to play better defense.”

Woollard led the way for the Huskies at the plate, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored. Howlett was right behind her going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Emily Naegele went 0-for-4 with a run scored, ending her hitting streak at 12 games.

NIU returns to the field Mar. 11 when NIU travels to Raleigh, N.C. to compete in the N.C. State softball tournament. The Huskies face Delaware with first pitch set for 9 a.m. CT.

-NIU-