AKRON, Ohio – The No. 3 seeded Northern Illinois University Softball team's championship run came to an end with a 9-3 setback to No. 4 Kent State, 9-3, in Game 13 of the 2017 MAC Tournament at Firestone Stadium Saturday.
 
"They kind of blooped us to death and then mixed in a big hit within that," said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. "We just couldn't get off the field in that one inning. They found every hole that was on the field."
 
The Huskies (33-21) were unable to get the timely hit or get off the field when they needed and that proved to be the difference in the game. Eight of Kent State's nine runs came with two outs, including five in a six-run third.
 
"I think we hit Ladines really well," Sutcliffe said. "We stranded a couple runners, but we had our chances. We fought to the end, unfortunately it didn't end up like yesterday."
 
Kent State (30-26) took an early 1-0 lead on a two-out home run by Maddy Grimm in the top of the first. The Golden Flashes had a chance to get more in the inning with runners at first and second, but Alex Frenz (Oakville, Mo./Oakville) struck out Bailey Brownfield to end the inning.
 
NIU responded an inning later. With the bases loaded and one out, Jessica Rio (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield East) doubled to left-center field to drive in a pair and give NIU a 2-1 lead.
 
Kent State answered by scoring six runs in the top of the third, scoring five of those runs with two outs. The Golden Flashes mounted their rally with back-to-back one-out doubles by Grimm and Holly Speers in the top of the third to tie the game, 2-2. After Ronnie Ladines singled to left field to push Speers to third, Bailey Brownfield reached on a fielder's choice and Kent State retook the lead.
 
With runners at first and second and two out, pinch-hitter Allie Luther singled through the left side on a 3-2 pinch to score Brownfield from second to extend Kent State's lead to 4-2. Keegan Hayes (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) who came in to pitch for Frenz surrendered a double by Vanessa Scoarste drove in Luther and Jen Cader to make the score, 6-2. Emily Dobbin capped the scoring in the inning when she singled to center field to score Scoarste and give Kent State a 7-2 lead.
 
Kent State added to its lead in the fourth with a two-out, two-run double by Cader to go up by seven, 9-2.
 
Tara Thacker (Uniontown, Ohio/North Canton Hoover) came in to pitch in the top of the fifth and shutout the Golden Flashes the rest of the way. The Huskie junior allowed just four hits in three innings of work.
 
"Tara's a bulldog," she said. "She was ready to pitch as much as she had to today. She had a great year. All three of our pitcher's did."
 
NIU had a rally going in the bottom of the sixth. Jordyn Bowen (Libertyville, Ill./Grayslake) reached on a one out single and Alaynie Woollard (New Castle, Ind./New Castle) doubled to right center field, putting runners at second and third for Greeno. The Huskie sophomore singled up the middle to score Bowen. Unfortunately for NIU, Jenny Van Geertry (Mokena, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) lined out right to the first baseman, who then doubled up Greeno who was off with the pitch.
 
Rio led the way for the Huskie offense, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Greeno was right behind her, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
 
-NIU-