SEATTLE – The Northern Illinois University softball team suffered a 3-2 setback to Ohio State on the final day of the Husky Classic, hosted by Washington Sunday.
A three-run fifth by Ohio State (11-6) proved too much to overcome for the Huskies (9-11) in the tournament finale against the Buckeyes.
NIU had two chances to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh but came up empty. With runners at the corners with one out. Unfortunately, Bianca Barone (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) was caught at third in a rundown attempting to score. However, Amberly Rodriguez (Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield) was able to advance to third on the play.
Following a two-out walk by Anne Allen (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way North), Jenny Van Geertry (Mokena, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) grounded out to third to end the inning and the game.
The Huskies scored both of their runs on wild pitches and both were scored by Van Geertry. She put NIU up 1-0 in the fourth when she took home on a wild pitch and then pulled the Huskies to within one when she scored in the bottom of the sixth.
The Buckeyes tied the game in the fifth on an RBI single by Niki Carver and took the lead on a two-run double by Lilli Piper.
"We played great today and many opportunities to win," said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. "Unfortunately, the ball just isn't bouncing our way right now. We'll collect ourselves and be ready to compete on Tuesday versus Seattle."
The Huskies will stay in the Pacific Northwest as they continue their spring break trip Tuesday. NIU will face Seattle in a doubleheader. First pitch for game one will be 6 p.m. CT.
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