Grant Montgomery
Student Intern
MEMPHIS – The Northern Illinois University softball team dropped a pair of games on day two of the Blues City Classic at the Tigers Softball Complex on Saturday afternoon.
The Huskies (5-9) lost game one of the twin bill to Evansville, 12-3, in six innings before losing a slugfest against in-state foe Western Illinois, 10-9.
The offense was on full display in game two for the Huskies, but came up just short as a late run scored in the sixth inning by the Leathernecks proved to be the difference.
NIU opened the scoring in the first inning by plating an early run when
Katie Keller launched a home run over the right center field wall. The Huskies were unable to hold onto the lead, as WIU plated two of their own in the bottom half of the frame.
After each team scored a run in the second inning, WIU then scored three more in the third before the Huskie bats came alive to score four runs in the fourth.
Kira Mickelson opened the frame with a leadoff single, and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. A
Mackenzie Mahy sacrifice bunt allowed Mickelson to reach third.
The Huskies took advantage of a Leatherneck defensive miscue when
Kara Apato reached on an error by the shortstop to score Mickelson. With runners on second and third,
Anne Allen sent a three-run blast out to left field to tie the game, 6-6.
The game was not tied for long, as the Leathernecks responded by scoring three runs in the bottom half of the fourth. The Huskies, however, would not go away as they responded with three runs in the fifth inning to tie the game at nine.
With one out in the top of the fifth inning,
Carley Goetschius drew a walk to spark the rally.
Bianca Barone then notched an RBI double to score Goetschius.
Amberly Rodriguez added a single of her own creating a first and third situation with still only one gone in the inning. The Huskies got creative on the basepaths with a double steal, which wreaked havoc on the WIU defense. Barone came around to score on the steal of home while Rodriguez ended up on third base. Mahy, who reached on a fielder's choice, got in a rundown long enough during Allen's at bat to score Rodriguez. Mahy was retired at third base on the same play to end the inning.
The game did not remain tied for long, as the Leathernecks plated the winning run in the sixth inning of the contest to make it 10-9. NIU went quietly in their final two innings.
NIU finishes the Blues City Classic with one game on Sunday morning against Northwestern State. Fans can follow the action at NIUHuskies.com at 9 a.m. CT.
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