Final Stats

Kent State 4-NIU 3 

DEKALB, Ill. – The timely hit eluded the Northern Illinois University softball team as it dropped the rubber game with Kent State at Mary M. Bell Field Sunday.

“We definitely had opportunities early to score and just weren’t able to capitalize with our runner on base,” said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. “We need to get better at driving the runners in once we get them on.”

NIU (23-10, 4-2) left 13 runners on base during the game, leaving the bases loaded twice and had runners at second and third in two other innings, including the bottom of the seventh, but failed to scratch across a run.

Kent State (22-10, 5-1) took the bat out of NIU’s leading hitter, Emily Naegele (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest), who hit three home runs in two games on Friday, by intentionally walking her three times and walking her a fourth time.

“We went into today expecting that was going to happen after the week she’s had,” Sutcliffe said. “It’s smart on their part.

“Our line up is strong. I’m not worried about teams pitching around Naegele. I actually encourage them to because it gives us an extra base runner to drive in later.”

Starter Alex Frenz (Oakville, Mo./Oakville) was effective early, keeping the Golden Flashes off the scoreboard through the first four innings and hitless, through three. With the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth, she got Hunter Bancifort to strike out to end the threat.

The Huskies then took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the frame. Bekah Harnish (Maple Park, Ill./Burlington Central) led off the inning with a double to center field. After advancing to third on an Allaynie Woollard (New Castle, Ind./New Castle) single, she later scored when Jessica Rio (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield East) grounded into a double play. Unfortunately for NIU, the lead would be short lived.

Kent State had a three-run, two-out rally, helped by a Huskie error to take a 3-1 lead in the top of the fifth. After retiring the first two batters, a single and a RBI double by Maddy Grimm tied the game, 1-1. Grimm, who reached third on the throw on her double to left, later scored when Kali Kossakowski (Elgin, Ill/St. Edward) dropped an infield fly. Shelbi Tilton made the Huskies pay when she doubled to left to score Holly Speers, who reach on the Kossakowski error.

However, the Huskies battled back in the bottom of the fifth, and made the Golden Flashes suffer for intentionally walking Naegele with one out. Jenny Van Geertry (Mokena, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) hit a homer over the left centerfield fence to tie the game, 3-3.

“This team has a lot of tenacity,” she said. “No lead is too big. We’re able to come back when we need to. We just needed to get one extra hit.”

NIU had an opportunity to tack on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when the Huskies loaded the bases. Unfortunately, like in the first inning when it had three runners on, NIU was unable to drive in a run.

That missed opportunity would come back to haunt the Huskies as Grimm belted a two-out home run over the left field fence. Grimm went 3-for-4 on the day with two RBIs and two runs scored.

NIU had an opportunity to at least tie the game when it had runners at second and third with two outs. However, Kossakowski flied out to right field to end the scoring chance and game for the Huskies.

The Huskies return to the diamond Tuesday when they play host to Ball State in a doubleheader. First pitch for game one is set for 1 p.m. CT. Fans can watch the game on NIUTube and follow the action live via Gametracker.

-NIU-