AKRON, Ohio – The Northern Illinois University softball team opened the 2018 Mid-American Conference Tournament completing a comeback with three-runs in the top of the seventh to defeat Ball State, 3-1, at Firestone Stadium on Wednesday. 
 
Trailing 1-0 heading into the top of the seventh, the Huskies (22-30 11-11) scored all their runs with two outs. Sophomore Anne Allen (Frankfort, Ill. /Lincoln-Way Central) led-off with a walk and senior Bekah Harnish (Maple Park, Ill. /Burlington Central) laid down a sacrifice bunt moving Allen to second.  After freshman Kira Mickelson (Wheatland, Wis. /Westosha Central) popped out, junior Katie Lamich (Naperville, Ill. /Naperville Central) singled to left to score Allen from second tying the game at one. 
 
With a runner on first, junior Jenny Van Geertry (Mokena, Ill. /Lincoln-Way East) singled putting runners at the corners with two outs.  After Van Geertry stole second, junior Dominique Greeno (Lacey, Wash./ North Thurston) gave the Huskies the lead on a two-run double. 
 
"I was just thinking that any base hit or pretty much anything through the infield was going to score two runs," said Greeno.  "I was not trying to do too much and I was just thinking base hit."
 
"I was just glad they stayed patient," said NIU head softball coach Christina Sutcliffe.  "Obviously, Anne [Allen] getting the lead-off walk and [Bekah] Harnish laying that bunt were huge in that inning.  It is nice to be on the other side of a one-run game for sure."
 
The Huskies and Cardinals (34-18 16-7) combined for 11 hits in the pitcher's duel.  Junior Alex Frenz (Oakville, Mo. /Oakville) pitched a complete game and surrendered only one run on five hits. 
 
"It was a good game," said Frenz.  "It was crazy to come back, back in the seventh inning.  I had all of the trust in the world they were going to get it done hitting wise, and I cannot do what I do without my teammate's defense.  They did a killer job today."
 
"She was phenomenal," said Sutcliffe.  "She has pitched two good games against Ball State now and we lost, 1-0, with her on the mound earlier this year.  It is nice for her to hang in there."
 
The Cardinals opened the scoring with a run in the fifth when catcher Olivia Huffman doubled home second basemen Maddy Labrador making the score 1-0 Ball State.
 
"We have to come out and have a couple of better at-bats," said Sutcliffe.  "Our defense was great, so we just have to keep that up."
 
The Huskies continue their journey through the MAC Tournament playing in the winner of the Toledo-Central Michigan game at 2:30 p.m. Central Time on Thursday, May 10.
 
-NIU-