DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader by one run at Mary M. Bell Field on Wednesday afternoon to the Ball State Cardinals.  The Cardinals defeated the Huskies 1-0 in the first game and 6-5 in the nightcap.
 
NIU (14-24, 5-6 MAC) rallied to take a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning of game two as Dominique Greeno (Lacey, Wash. /North Thurston) cleared the bases with a two-out, three-run double. 
 
"I did not have a great day at the plate today, but when you are in that moment, you just have to forget about that and try to win the game," said Greeno.  
 
The Cardinals took the lead right back in the next half-inning when designated player Annie Robinson reached on an error that brought two runners in to score, giving Ball State a 6-5 lead. Ball State reliever Alyssa Rothwell then retired the Huskies in order in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win and the sweep. 
 
The Huskies scored the first two runs of game two in the bottom of the first.  Junior Jenny Van Geertry (Mokena, Ill. /Lincoln-Way East) was hit by the pitch to start the inning and got to second on a Greeno sacrifice bunt. After junior Sam Schmidt (Lombard, Ill. /Willowbrook) singled, senior Alaynie Woollard (New Castle, Ind. /New Castle) knocked a base hit up the middle to drive home Van Geertry for the game's first run.  Senior Bekah Harnish (Maple Park, Ill. /Burlington Central) then put down a squeeze bunt that scored Schmidt from third and put NIU up 2-0.  
 
Ball State (26-12, 8-3 MAC) came back in the top of the third when Cardinals third baseman Janae Hogg hit a two-run home run over the centerfield fence to tie the game 2-2. The Cardinals then took the lead, 4-2, in the sixth on another two-run home run, this time by first baseman Danae King.
 
Senior Tara Thacker (Uniontown, Ohio /North Canton Hoover) pitched five-and-one-thirds innings, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out two batters. 
 
The Cardinals won the first game, 1-0, in a pitcher's duel.  Ball State scored the lone run of the game in the third inning when centerfielder Maddy Labrador hit an RBI double, scoring Haley Dominique from first base.  
 
The Huskies had an opportunity to get on the board in the top of the sixth inning when junior Katie Lamich (Naperville, Ill. /Naperville Central) doubled to start the inning, getting NIU's first hit off of Ball State starting pitcher Carolyn Wilmes. Rothwell then entered the game and retired the next three Huskies in order to leave Lamich at second base.
 
Junior Alex Frenz (Oakville, Mo. /Oakville) gave up only one run on five hits in four-and-one-third innings of work.  To counter that, Ball State pitcher Carolyn Wilmes gave up only one hit in five innings of work.  
 
"We gave Alex a start and she has primarily been a relief pitcher for us," said NIU head softball coach Christina Sutcliffe.  "She did a great job. Last year, she had done the best against Ball State."
 
The NIU softball team heads to Toledo for a three-game series starting on Friday, April 13 at 3:00 p.m. 
 
–NIU–