TOURNAMENT CENTRAL

BEAUMONT, Texas – A pair of three-run innings proved to be the difference for the Northern Illinois University softball team as the Huskies swept their first two games of the Cardinal Classic Friday.
 
The Huskies (4-2) posted a 5-2 win over Alabama A&M (3-9) and rallied for a 3-2 victory over Kansas (8-4) in the nightcap.
 
"I think we struggled a little bit at the plate today overall, being able to get the key hit when we needed it," said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. "Obviously, we did just enough to win both games and stayed patient enough to do what we needed to do."
 
Trailing 2-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh against the Jayhawks, NIU's Jessica Rio (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield East) walked to open the inning. With one out, Sam Schmidt (Lombard, Ill./Willowbrook) reached on an error and Dominique Greeno (Lacey, Wash./North Thornton) walked to load the bases for Kali Kossakowski (Elgin, Ill./St. Edward). The Huskie senior lifted a sacrifice fly to centerfield to drive in Rio for NIU's first run of the day.
 
With two on and two out, Bekah Harnish (Maple Park, Ill./Burlington Central) delivered a single to score Schmidt to tie the game, 2-2. Greeno advanced to third on the play for Kayti Grable (Santana, Calif./Santee). Grable singled to centerfield to drive in Greeno from third for the game-winning RBI.
 
"Getting the leadoff hitter on obviously makes a big difference for us," Sutcliffe said. "They [Kansas] did make that error, then we had two phenomenal at bats out of Dom and Bekah Harnish. Both worked to a full count and were able to stay within themselves and get base hits. They made the decision to pitch to Kayti and she made them pay."
 
Tara Thacker (Uniontown, Ohio/North Canton Hoover) and Alex Frenz (Oakville, Mo./Oakville) combined to hold the Jayhawks to two runs on six hits. Thacker pitched the first five innings, allowing one run on four hits, while Frenz came in for the final two innings, allowing one run on two hits to pick up her second win of the day.
 
A three-run second by the Huskies keyed their victory over Alabama A&M in the first game of the day. Grable opened the day's scoring for the Huskies with a two-out home run to left field in the top of the first. The Lady Bulldogs responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 2-1 advantage.
 
The Huskies rallied in the top of the second with Rio reaching on a one-out single to left. She stole second to move into scoring position for Alaynie Woollard (New Castle, Ind./New Castle). Woollard then singled to left to drive in Rio. Woollard moved into scoring position herself as she advanced to second on the throw out attempt of Rio and moved closer on a wild pitch.
 
Woollard scored two batters later when Rubecca Rupard (Normal, Ill./Normal West) laid down a sacrifice bunt with runners on second and third. An RBI single by Kossakowski drove in Schmidt from third and cap the scoring for NIU in the inning. NIU added an insurance run in the top of the sixth when Schmidt stole home.
 
Keegan Hayes (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central), who made her first start of the season, allowed two runs on three hits in three innings of work. Frenz pitched the final four innings, shutting out Alabama A&M to pick up the win.
 
The Huskies return to the diamond Saturday when they face South Dakota State and Tulsa. NIU's game with the Jackrabbits starts at 12:15 p.m., while first pitch for the Tulsa contest is set for 2:30 p.m. Live stats for both games will be available.
 
-NIU-