Final Stats

WMU 4-NIU 3 Box Score 

DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University softball team suffered a 4-3 setback to Western Michigan at Mary M. Bell Field Friday.

With the Huskies (27-12, 8-4) leading 3-2, with runners at first and second, Western Michigan (17-18, 8-3) plated a pair of runs in the seventh inning on a couple of Huskie errors to pick up the victory in the series opener.

However, after issuing a leadoff walk in the top of the seventh, starting pitcher Alex Frenz (Oakville, Mo./Oakville) was switched out for Tara Thacker (Uniontown, Ohio/North Canton Hoover).

Frenz had been brilliant through the first six innings. The Huskie freshman tied her season high with nine strikeouts, including six through the first two innings. She even pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the third, coaxing a 5-6-3 double play to end the inning.

“Alex did a great job,” said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. “She did enough to win. We just had a couple of defensive miscues, but they did too

“We knew this was going to be a great matchup. Unfortunately we were on the wrong end of it today.”

The Huskies got two quick outs, getting the lead runner on back-to-back sacrifice bunt attempts. After a walk to Melissa Palmer on a 3-2 pitch put runners at first and second, the Huskie defense committed two errors when Sabrina Gamboa hit a hot shot to shortstop.

Kali Kossakowski (Elgin, Ill./St. Edward) mishandled the ball as Ivy Schaaf ran in front of her, allowing the ball to bounce to bounce behind second, allowing Schaaf to score and tie the game. An errant throw from Bekah Harnish (Maple Park, Ill./Burlington Central) trying to throw out Schaaf allowed Palmer to score.

The Huskies were retired in order in the bottom of the seventh to end the game.

NIU opened up a 3-0 lead by scoring two runs on three hits and an error in the bottom of the third inning. The Huskies scored both runs with two outs in the inning. NIU tacked on another run in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by Jessica Rio (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield East).

“We have to go back to the basics in our swing,” Sutcliffe said. “We’re leaving way too many runners on base and it’s costing us.”

Western Michigan closed the gap to a run on a two-out, two-run homer to left field off of Frenz.

The Huskies return to the diamond tomorrow when they host Western Michigan in a doubleheader. First pitch of game one is set for 1 p.m. CT with the second game to follow. Fans can watch the game live on NIUTube or follow the action live via Gametracker on NIUHuskies.com.

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