SAN DIEGO – The Northern Illinois University softball team's bats were alive as NIU scored 13 runs in two games on the first day of the 29th Annual Campbell/Cartier Classic hosted by San Diego State Friday.
The Huskies (4-3) opened the day with an 8-0 five-inning victory over UC Santa Barbara before falling to San Diego State, 7-5, on a walk-off home run.
For the sixth-straight game this season, NIU scored first putting up a two-spot in the top of the first. With runners on second and third with one out, Dominique Greeno (Lacey, Wash./North Thurston) singled to left field, driving in Jenny Van Geertry (Mokena, Ill/Lincoln-Way East) and Anne Allen (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way North).
The big blow for the Huskies came in the next inning when NIU tallied a five runs, with four of those runs coming on a pair of two-run homers. Abby Howlett (South Elgin, Ill./St. Charles North) put the Huskies up 4-0 on a two-run shot to right field.
Katie Lamich made it 5-0 when she stole third and scored on a wild pitch. Sam Schmidt (Lombard, Ill./Willowbrook) capped the scoring in the inning when she blasted a two-run shot over the left field fence.
Van Geertry scored the game-winning run in the fourth inning. After leading off the inning with a walk, the Huskie senior stole second and advanced to third on a Greeno fly out to right field. She then took home on a failed pickoff attempt by the catcher.
Mackenzie Bryan (Elwood, Ind./Elwood) and the Huskie defense held the Gauchos scoreless the rest of the way to secure the win.
"We did a great job scoring in multiple innings and putting the pressure of the defense," said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. "Kenzie did a nice job pitching out of some jams and keeping their offense shut down for the most part."
A Huskie rally in the nightcap with San Diego State came up short as the Aztecs received a two-run walk-off home run by Kelsey Munoz.
NIU fell behind 3-0 through three innings after San Diego State scored a run in the second and a pair in the third. The Huskies responded with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. Unfortunately, the Aztecs got the two runs back in the bottom of the frame.
Trailing 5-2 heading into the top of the seventh, the Huskies mounted a rally, and once again, it was with the longball. With runners on first and second and one out, Schmidt tied the game, 5-5, when she hit her second homer of the day.
Unfortunately for NIU, the offense was unable to tack on more runs in the inning. With a runner at second and one out, Munoz hit the game winner over the centerfield fence.
NIU returns to the diamond Saturday, when the Huskies continue play in the 29th Annual Campbell/Cartier Classic. The Huskies will face Middle Tennessee at 1:30 p.m. and Grand Canyon at 4 p.m. All time listed are Central.
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