LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Northern Illinois University softball team lost to University of Louisville, 9-4, at Ulmer Field on Wednesday afternoon.
The Huskies (5-17), who took a four-run lead in the top of third, were unable to keep Louisville at bay the final four innings. With the score tied 4-4 heading into the bottom of sixth, the Cardinals scored five in the inning to take a 9-4 lead.
In the home half of the sixth, the Cardinals took their first lead of the game with a go-ahead run off of a Huskie error. Louisville added a grand slam later in the inning to defeat the Huskies.
After the Huskies and Cardinals were scoreless in the first two innings, NIU exploded in the third inning. Outfielder
Jenny Van Geertry (Mokena, Ill. /Lincoln-Way East) singled to start of the inning, and
Dominique Greeno (Lacey, Wash. /North Thurston) came to the plate and hit a towering two-run homer to dead center to put the Huskies in front, 2-0. The Huskie junior hit her fourth homer of the season and her second in three games.
Junior
Sam Schmidt (Lombard, Ill. /Willowbrook) continued the inning with a single and then senior
Alaynie Woollard (New Castle, Ind. /New Castle) drove her in on a triple to right field. After senior
Bekah Harnish (Maple Park, Ill. /Burlington Central) walked, freshman
Kira Mickelson (Wheatland, Wis. /Westosha Central) struck out, but the Huskies attempted a double steal. The Cardinals' catcher's throw went to second and Woollard scored from third giving the Huskies a 4-0 lead.
"Our offense did a great job knocking out their two pitchers and putting pressure on them," said NIU head softball coach
Christina Sutcliffe. "We are slowly starting to play some really good softball."
Van Geertry led the way for the Huskies at the plate going 3-for-4 with three singles on the day.
The Cardinals came back in the bottom of the third and scored three runs to cut their deficit to only one. Louisville added a run in the fourth to break even with the Huskies at four. In the bottom of the fourth, the Huskie defense kept NIU in the game as they turned an inning-ending double play.
"The double play by Harnish and Allen was huge to get us off the field," said Sutcliffe.
The Huskies continue their road trip with a trip to Bloomington, Ind. to play two games against Illinois- Chicago and Wisconsin Green Bay in the Hoosier Classic. Play starts on Friday against UIC at 9:00 a.m. Central.
–NIU–
