BEAUMONT, Texas – The Northern Illinois University softball team remained unbeaten in the Cardinal Classic after posting a pair of shutouts Saturday.
 
The Huskies (6-2) opened their day with a 4-0 shutout of South Dakota State (3-11) before blanking Tulsa (6-7) in the second game of the day.
 
Tara Thacker (Uniontown, Ohio/North Canton Hoover) and Alex Frenz (Oakville, Mo./Oakville) were stellar in the pitcher's circle. Thacker picked up her first victory of the season after shutting out the Jackrabbits on three hits and three walks while striking out six in seven innings of work. Frenz improved to 3-0 on the year after scattering seven hits and a walk for the complete game shutout.
 
"Tara and Alex were lights out today, both throwing complete game shutouts," said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. "We can't expect anything more out of them. They were workhorses today and were able to get out of some big jams when it mattered as well."
 
A three-run first inning proved to be more than enough run support for Thacker in the first game of the day. The Huskies were able to capitalize on three Jackrabbit errors in the inning.
 
Once again, Kayti Grable (Santana, Calif./Santee) opened the scoring for the Huskies when her single up the middle drove in Kali Kossakowski (Elgin, Ill./St. Edward). A sacrifice fly by Abby Howlett (South Elgin, Ill./St. Charles North) scored Bekah Harnish (Maple Park, Ill./Burlington Central) to give NIU a 2-0 lead.
 
The Huskies took advantage of a third South Dakota State error when Jenny Van Geerty (Mokena, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) scored after Jessica Rio (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield East) reached on an error by Jackrabbit pitcher Ashlyn Bender.
 
"Anytime you can get ahead early like that, it takes a little bit of pressure of you as a pitcher," Sutcliffe said. "More importantly we didn't want a letdown today after yesterday and I think putting three runs up in the first inning set the tone for us."
 
Sam Schmidt (Lombard, Ill./Willowbrook) scored on a double steal in the fourth to give NIU its final run of the game.
 
A two-run third inning was all Frenz and the Huskies needed to defeat Tulsa in the second game of the day.
 
With runners on second and third with two outs, Rubecca Rupard (Normal, Ill./Normal West) cleared the bases with a single through the right side. Frenz took over from there, shutting out the Golden Hurricane the next five innings, while allowing six hits.
 
The Huskies look to sweep the weekend when they face tournament host Lamar Sunday. First pitch is set for 10:15 a.m. and live stats will be available.
 
-NIU-