MURRAY, Ky. – The Northern Illinois University Softball team split its final two games of the 2017 Racer Classic at Racer Field Sunday.
 
The Huskies (9-9) posted a 5-3 victory in its rematch with Austin Peay State in the first game of the day before suffering a 9-0 setback to host Murray State in the tournament finale.
 
"We did a nice job putting a bunch of hits together and taking a 5-1 lead and then played good defense to hold the lead," said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. "Second game we hit the ball hard, but just right at people and couldn't get anything going."
 
NIU pounded out eight hits and capitalized on a pair of Governor errors in its victory over Austin Peay State. Once again, it was the big inning that proved to be the difference for the Huskies.
 
Trailing, 1-0, headed into the top of the fourth, NIU's bats busted out in a big way. The Huskies tallied five runs on six hits and an error.
 
The Huskies began the rally with three-straight one out singles. Sam Schmidt (Lombard, Ill./Willowbrook) reached with a single through the left side and Alaynie Woollard (New Castle, Ind./New Castle) singled up the middle, to put runners first and second for Abby Howlett (South Elgin, Ill./St. Charles North).
 
Howlett singled through to left field and Schmidt, who advanced to third, scored on an error by the left field to tie the game. Kayla Scaperrotta (Margate, Fla./Coral Springs Charter) put the Huskies ahead for good when she singled to score Woollard from second.
 
With runners on second and third and still one down, Dominique Greeno (Lacey, Wash./North Thurston) delivered the big blow in the inning when she doubled to right field to clear the bases and give NIU a 4-1 lead. Jenny Van Geertry (Mokena, Ill./Lincoln-Way East), who reached on a fielder's choice and proceeded to steal second and third, scored the final run of the game for NIU on a Kali Kossakowski (Elgin, Ill./St. Edward) single up the middle.
 
Alex Frenz (Oakville, Mo.) picked up the win, improving to 6-1 on the season, allowing three runs, all earned on five hits and four walks while striking out five. Tara Thacker (Uniontown, Ohio/North Hoover Canton) picked up the save, recording the final two outs of the game.
 
The final game of the day was all Murray State. The Racers scored in every inning accept the second and pounded out 10 hits, while holding NIU to three hits. Kossakowski tallied two of NIU's base hits, while Howlett recorded the other.
"We definitely finished the weekend better than we started and we need to take that momentum into Tuesday," Sutcliffe said.
 
NIU returns to action Tuesday when the Huskies travel to Evansville, Ind. for a doubleheader with Evansville. First pitch for game one is set for 3 p.m. with the second game to follow.
 
-NIU-