TOLEDO, Ohio. – The Northern Illinois University softball team dropped both games of the doubleheader against the Toledo Rockets at Scott Park on Friday.
The Huskies (14-26, 5-8) lost the first game, 2-0, and the nightcap 5-3.
"We need to figure out how to get off the field sooner," said NIU head softball coach
Christina Sutcliffe. "Our walks and errors hurt us today unfortunately."
A three-run sixth by the Rockets proved to be the difference in game two of the day. Toledo scored the tying run on an RBI double by lead-off hitter Kylie Norwood and scored the go-ahead runs on an error by senior
Alaynie Woollard (New Castle, Ind. /New Castle).
The Huskies got on the board early as two runs came across home plate in the top of the second inning. Woollard started off the inning by coaxing a walk. Sophomore
Kayla Scaperrotta (Coral Springs, Fla. /Coral Springs Charter School) got hit-by-the-pitch. With runners on first and second, freshman
Kira Mickelson (Wheatland, Wis. /Westosha Central) doubled down the left field line giving the Huskies an early 2-0 lead.
"Kira [Mickelson] had a huge hit in the second game to give us an early lead," said Sutcliffe.
Toledo scored the equalizers in the bottom of the fourth inning. With the bases loaded, Rocket shortstop Megan Choate walked scoring a run. The next batter, Toledo catcher Kaitlyn Bergman, reached on an error and drove in the tying run.
The Huskies regained the lead in the top of the fifth on back-to-back two out doubles. Junior
Jenny Van Geertry (Mokena, Ill. /Lincoln-Way East) doubled and junior
Dominique Greeno (Lacey, Wash. /North Thurston) doubled to right centerfield to drive home Van Geertry giving the Huskies a 3-2 lead.
NIU's offense was held in check in the opening game of the doubleheader. The Rockets scored all three runs in the third inning, an RBI single by Toledo designated player Bailey Curry and on a hit-by-the-pitch and walk with the bases loaded.
The Huskies managed five hits against the Rockets pitcher Kailey Minarchick. Van Geertry, junior
Sam Schmidt (Lombard, Ill. /Willowbrook), Woollard, senior
Bekah Harnish (Maple Park, Ill. /Burlington Central), and junior
Katie Lamich (Naperville, Ill. /Naperville Central) all recorded single hits. Woollard's double in the top of the third, was the lone extra-base for the Huskies in game one.
NIU had a couple of late-scoring opportunities. In the sixth, Schmidt led-off with a single. After a fly out, she stole second and Harnish singled up the middle, putting runners at first and third with one out. After Harnish stole second, Scaperrotta struck out, and junior
Abby Howlett (South Elgin, Ill. /St. Charles North) flied out to end the inning. In the seventh, NIU could not take advantage of two straight walks which put runners on first and second with one out.
"We'll keep working hard and fighting," said Sutcliffe.
The Huskies will finish up the three game series at Scott Park on Saturday at 12 p.m. CT. Live stats will be available through utrockets.com and live streaming will be on ESPN3.
-NIU-
