DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University softball team won its home opener against Ball State, 7-6, before falling to the Cardinals, 7-5, in nine innings in the nightcap at Mary M. Bell Field Tuesday.
The Huskies (16-18, 3-4) pounded out 18 hits between the two games, with Anne Allen (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way North) leading the way. The Huskie second baseman went 5-for-8 on the day, including a 4-for-4 performance in game one, with two RBIs and three runs scored. Freshman Katie Keller (Geneva, Ill./Geneva) was also perfect in game one going 3-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored.
"Anne absolutely carried us today," said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe of Allen. "That's the great thing about this team. Somebody different can carry us every day and today was her day. Honestly, she's having a great year so far."
Sophomore Mackenzie Bryan (Elwood, Ind./Elwood) flirted with a no hitter picking up the victory in the first game of the day. The Huskie hurler held Ball State without a hit through five-and-two-thirds innings. She pitched a complete game, allowing six runs, two earned, on two hits, eight walks and three hit batters.
"She struggled to find the zone at times, but was able to pitch herself out of it," Sutcliffe said of Bryan. "Both her and Alex [Frenz], had good games I thought today.
"You're going to beat Ball State by outhitting them. That's just the fact of the matter. We hung with them, but we just couldn't get the hit when it mattered."
The NIU offense provided plenty of run support for Bryan, scoring three runs in the third inning and three more in the fourth to open a 6-0 lead. Keller hit a two-run triple down the left field line to open the scoring, and later scored on a sacrifice bunt by Bianca Barone (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem).
In the fourth, it was Keller and Barone providing the power for NIU again. After two quick outs, Jenny Van Geertry (Mokena, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) walked and Allen singled to left. Keller came through hitting a towering fly ball that never left the infield and dropped harmlessly between the third baseman and shortstop for an RBI double. Barome then cleared the bases with a single to center to give the Huskies a six-run advantage.
Ball State responded in the top of the sixth. With the bases loaded and one out, Bryan walked in the first Cardinal run of the game with her no hitter still intact. Bryan saw her no-hitter broken up when her counterpart, Sarah Venker came in out of the Flex position to pinch hit with bases loaded. Venker broke up the no-no with a bases-clearing double to pull the Cardinals within two.
NIU would score an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI double by Allen. It would prove key as Ball State tallied two runs in the top of the seventh on a one-out two-run homer. However, Bryan retired the final two batters to give the Huskies the win.
In game two, the Huskies did all their scoring in the third inning. With runners at second and third and no outs, Allen singled to right to give NIU a 1-0 lead. Van Geertry, who was on third after the Allen single scored the next run on passed ball. Allen then came in to score when Barone reached on a fielder's choice and Keller, who reached after Allen singled, also scored from second when Barone was caught in a run down after reaching.
With NIU now up 4-0 and still batting with two outs and runners at first and second, the Huskies added one more run to their lead when Sam Schmidt (Lombard, Ill./Willowbrook) singled and Amberly Rodriguez (Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield) scored on an error by the center fielder.
However, Ball State Tied the game with two runs in the fourth, another in the fifth and two more in the sixth. The Cardinals took their first lead of the game on back-to-back homers in the top of the ninth to win the game, 7-5.
The Huskies continue their five-game homestand when NIU welcomes Miami to Mary M. Bell Field for a three-game series Friday. First pitch for Friday's single game is set for 3 p.m., while Saturday's doubleheader will start at 1 p.m. Fans can watch all the games live via NIUTube and follow live stats on NIUHuskies.com.
-NIU-
