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Team
Scott Walstrom, NIU
0
Bethune-Cookman BCUSB 0-1
1
Winner Northern Illinois NIU 1-0
Bethune-Cookman BCUSB
0-1
0
Final
1
Northern Illinois NIU
1-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Bethune-Cookman BCUSB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 3
Northern Illinois NIU 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 0

W: Bumbalough, Amber (1-0) L: ENRIQUEZ,D. (0-1)

3
Northern Illinois NIU 1-1
7
Winner Purdue PUR 1-0
Northern Illinois NIU
1-1
3
Final
7
Purdue PUR
1-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Northern Illinois NIU 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 3 5 0
Purdue PUR 1 4 1 1 0 0 0 7 10 2

W: Bates (1-0) L: Ostrowski, Delaney (0-1)

Game Recap: Softball |

Huskies Open 2020 with 1-0 Win over Bethune-Cookman

Purdue too much for NIU in game two

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Northern Illinois University softball team opened the 2020 campaign with a 1-0 victory over the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats in the first game of the FAU First Pitch Classic at FAU Stadium Friday.
 
The Huskies (1-0) dropped the second game of the doubleheader, 7-3, to Purdue.
 
"The team played well for the first games," said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. "It was great being on dirt and seeing how we compete against others. Bums had an amazing day in the circle and we were a few plays short of having a different result in game two."
 
Great pitching by Amber Bumbalough and timely small ball proved to be the difference in the contest with Bethune-Cookman for Huskies. NIU took advantage of poor defense by the Wildcats in the bottom of the third inning to score the lone run of the game.
 
Mackenzie Mahy reached on a two-base error by the Bethune-Cookman third basemen. She then ended up on third base by another error by the B-C catcher before coming around to score when Bianca Barone grounded out to third base giving the Huskies a 1-0 lead. That was all the offense the Huskies would need.
 
After the Huskies took the early advantage, Bumbalough worked around trouble in the top of the fourth after allowing a lead-off double.  She was able to get a swinging strikeout, followed by two groundouts to get out of the frame.   
 
Bumbalough was fantastic, working around five hits and two walks on the afternoon.  After she allowed the aforementioned leadoff double in the fourth inning, she retired the final 12 batters of the game to secure the win.   She also stuck out a pair in seven innings of work. 
 
Katie Keller gave NIU its first hit of the season when she led off the bottom of the fourth with a single through the right side. Kara Apato's one-out single in the sixth was the Huskies' other hit on the day.
 
A four-run second inning by the Boilermakers proved too much to overcome for NIU in game two of the day. The Huskies offense pounded out five hits and plated three runs in the game. Keller and Kira Mickelson led the way for NIU, going a combined 2-for-6 with three RBIs.
 
The Huskies are back in action Saturday when NIU takes on Wisconsin at 12:30 p.m. CT. Fans can follow all the action via live stats on NIUHuskies.com. The Huskies' 5 p.m. nightcap with FAU will also be available on CUSA.tv.
 
-NIU-
 
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