HAMMOND, La. – A two-run first inning was more than enough for the Northern Illinois University softball team as the Huskies scored a 2-1 victory over Nicholls State on the final day of the Lion Classic I hosted by Southeastern Louisiana State Sunday.
Jenny Van Geertry's (Mokena, Ill/Lincoln-Way East) third home run of the weekend, a two-run shot, scored Anne Allen (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way North) who reached on a one-out single. Van Geertry's homer was the fifth time the Huskies scored first on the weekend.
"Jenny definitely looks confident in the box," said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. "It's nice to see she got going from where she left off last year. We're looking for several players throughout the line up to have those types of weekends. Jenny got the first one, so we'll see who gets the next one."
From there, the Huskie (3-2) pitchers and defense took over. Mackenzie Bryan (Elwood, Ill./Elwood) and Alex Frenz (Oakville, Mo./Oakville) held the Colonels to one run, scored in the top of the fifth, on four hits and a walk.
"Mackenzie and Alex set each other up pretty well because they're very different pitchers," Sutcliffe said. "So, one coming in after the other is a completely different look for another team to face. They were able to work off each other and put together a great game."
Bryan improved to 2-1 on the season allowing three hits and an earned run in four innings of work, while Frenz scored the save, pitching three shut-out innings, allowing one hit.
NIU returns to the diamond Friday, Feb. 14 when the Huskies travel to San Diego, Calif. for the 29th annual Campbell Cartier Classic. The Huskies open the tournament against UC Santa Barbera at 4 p.m. CT.
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