CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University softball team concluded the Coach B Classic on Sunday.  NIU (4-11) lost a close game to in-state foe Illinois, 2-1. 
 
"I just think today we played a complete game," said NIU head softball coach Christina Sutcliffe.  "I think we beat them on paper, unfortunately the scoreboard did not show that.  We pitched well, we played clean defensively and offensively we out hit them.  We were one hit shy of winning that game."
 
Tara Thacker (Uniontown, Ohio / North Canton Hoover) hurled her third complete game of the tournament.  Thacker pitched six innings and gave up two runs on seven hits.  The Huskie senior went 2-1 this weekend in 20 innings of work.
 
"Tara put three great games together this weekend," said Sutcliffe.  "When I talked to her after Friday's game, she said that she kind of feels like she is in a rhythm.  If we can get her going, and get the others going, I definitely think some good things are in the future."
 
The Illini scored their two runs in the bottom of the first inning off of an RBI single and an RBI double. Illinois was up 2-0, after one.
 
At the top of the fourth, the Huskies get on the board when junior Dominique Greeno (Lacey, Wash. / North Thurston) singled home junior Jenny Van Geertry (Mokena, Ill. / Lincoln-Way Central) from third.  The Huskies trailed, 2-1, and that was the margin of victory for the Illini. 
 
"Dom has been putting in some extra work," said Sutcliffe.  "She was given the opportunity and has made the best of it so far.  She has definitely been a huge spark plug for us and it spoke yesterday and today."
 
The Huskies travel to Richmond, Ky. on March 9-11 to compete in the Eastern Kentucky Tournament.  Action begins at 9 a.m. when the Huskies take on Saint Louis. 
 
–NIU–