SEATTLE – The Northern Illinois University softball team dropped a pair of games on the second day of the Husky Classic, hosted by Washington Saturday.
The Huskies (9-10) were edged, 4-3, by Seattle in the first game of the day before being no-hit by Washington, 2-0, in the nightcap.
After Seattle took a 2-0 lead on a two-run homer by Madison Cathcart in the bottom of the first, NIU responded with a pair of runs in the top of the third. Jenny Van Geertry (Mokena, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) hit her team-leading sixth home run on the year to put NIU on the board. Katie Keller (Geneva, Ill./Geneva) tied the game at two when she stole home on a double steal with Sam Schmidt (Lombard, Ill./Willowbrook).
The Redhawks retook the lead with a run in the fourth. NIU came back with a two-out triple by Anne Allen, scoring Amberly Rodriguez (Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield), who reached on an error with two outs, all the way from first. Unfortunately, Allen would be stranded at third.
Seattle made the Huskies pay, with a run in the bottom of the inning and NIU was unable to answer in the top of the seventh.
A day after winning a perfect game, the Huskies were held hitless by Washington in their second game of the day. A two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth proved to be the difference for the home-standing Huskies.
Alex Frenz (Oakville, Mo./Oakville) was solid in the circle, allowing two runs on five hits, while walking none. Unfortunately for her and NIU, the Huskies were unable to generate any offense. NIU did coax three walks, but couldn't make Washington pay.
"We played well today both defensively and in the circle," said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. "Unfortunately we left way too many runners on base and couldn't get anything going offensively. We look to end the weekend on a high note versus Ohio State."
The Huskies conclude play in the Husky Classic tomorrow against Big Ten foe Ohio State. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. CT. Fans can watch both games or follow all the action through live scoring on gohguskies.com.
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