Box Score ATHENS, Ohio – The Northern Illinois University softball team rallied in the top of the seventh in its season opener with Rutgers in a big way as NIU defeated the Scarlet Knights, 17-9, in the season opener at the Ohio Softball Stadium Friday.
 
Trailing 9-8 heading into the top of the seventh, the Huskies (1-0) put up a nine spot in their final at bat, with all runs coming after two outs. NIU blasted three home runs in the inning, keyed by a grand slam by junior Alaynie Woollard (New Castle, Ind./New Castle).
 
After a strikeout and fly out, Kali Kossakowski (Elgin, Ill./St. Edward) began the rally when she coaxed a walk. A Jenny Van Geertry (Mokena, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) single and intentional walk to Kayti Grable (Santana, Calif./Santee) loaded the bases for Bekah Harnish (Maple Park, Ill./Burlington Central). Harnish reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Kossakowski from third to tie the game.
 
With the bases still loaded with two outs, Woollard homered to left center to give the Huskies a 13-9 advantage. Jessica Rio (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield) continued the rally when she reached on an error and was driven home by Abby Howlett (South Elgin, Ill./St. Charles North), who blasted a two-run shot to left center. With the Huskies up 15-9, Sam Schmidt (Lombard, Ill./Willowbrook) walked and Skylar Weinstein (Scottsdale, Ariz./Desert Mountain) drove her in with the Huskies' third home run of the game.
 
Keegan Hayes (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central), who came in to pitch in the bottom of the third, pitched around a leadoff walk and single. She struck out the third batter of the inning, got a force out with the next batter and the final Scarlet Knight popped out to the short stop. Hayes picked up the win, allowing two runs on five hits and five base on balls, while striking out four.
 
"Our pitching staff combined to keep us in the game," said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. "They did a nice job of shutting Rutgers down when it mattered."
 
Woollard led the way for NIU at the plate going 3-for-5 with five RBIs and two runs scored. Grable was solid as well, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs scored. She hit her first home run of the season in the sixth inning. It was her 32nd of her career, tying her with Emily Naegele for the school record in career home runs. Grable came up a triple short of hitting for the cycle.
 
"She had a phenomenal opening day," Sutcliffe said of Grable. "She had three RBIs and some great at bats."
 
NIU then faced Ohio in its second game of the day. However, due to construction at Ohio Softball Stadium, the game was suspended due to darkness with the scored tied, 2-2, in the eighth inning. The game will resume tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. CT. The Huskies will then face Rutgers and Ohio following the completion of Friday's Ohio game.
 
-NIU-