Final Stats

NIU 1-Toledo 2 Box Score 

TOLEDO, Ohio – The Northern Illinois University softball team suffered a 2-1 extra-innings setback in the series opener at Toledo at Scott Park Friday afternoon.

The Huskies (32-14, 12-6) struck early, but were unable to tack onto that lead the next six innings. Unfortunately for NIU, Toledo (16-31, 7-11) was able to hang around and scored a pair of late runs to pick up the win.

“We just couldn’t get a hit when we needed it,” said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. “We’re just not playing our best ball right now. We need to regroup and come out tomorrow looking better offensively, defensively, all around.”

NIU took a 1-0 lead on an RBI double by Kayti Grable (Santee, Calif./Santana) in the first inning to score Kali Kossakowski (Elgin, Ill./St. Edward), who led off the inning with a single to right field. She moved into scoring position on an infield single by Katie Lamich (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central). However, Lamich was doubled up on a fly foul ball with one out to end the inning.

Alex Frenz (Oakville, Mo./Oakville) took over from there. The freshman pitcher held Toledo to two hits over the next five innings and keeping the Rockets off the scoreboard.

However, Toledo did get on the board in the bottom of the sixth by manufacturing a run. Chandler Rice led off the inning with a single and was sacrificed to second. She advanced to third on an infield single and later scored on a fielder’s choice on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Kaitlyn Bergman.

Toledo looked to end the game in regulation, loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh. However, Tara Thacker (Uniontown, Ohio/North Canton Hoover), who came in to pitch in relief for Frenz, got out of the jam unscathed.

“Alex did a really nice job,” Sutcliffe said. “Once again, Tara came in, under some pressure and was able to get us out of the inning. Unfortunately we just couldn’t do enough. We just couldn’t get any run support.”

Thacker and the Huskies wouldn’t be as fortunate in the bottom of the eighth. After NIU failed to score in the top of the inning, Toledo’s Celeste Fridge led off the inning with a double. She then scored when the next batter doubled down the right field line to give the Rockets the win.

Due to expected inclement weather in the area, Friday’s single game was turned into a doubleheader. However the game was halted due to darkness after the ninth with the two teams tied, 6-6. The game will resume tomorrow at 10 a.m. CT. The series finale will be played 25 minutes following the conclusion of game two. Live stats will be available at utrockets.com.

-NIU-