Grant Montgomery
Student Intern

GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Northern Illinois University softball team dropped its doubleheader with UNC Greensboro at UNCG Softball Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
 
The Huskies (7-15) suffered a 9-1 setback in game one before coming up short in an extra innings thriller, 5-4.
 
In game two of Wednesday's twin bill, a key sixth inning run allowed by the Huskies and an eighth inning HBP proved costly. 
 
The Spartans jumped out to an early lead when first baseman Samantha Lagrama led off the second inning with a solo home run.
 
NIU's offense quickly tied the contest in their half of the third.  With one gone in the frame, Anne Allen and Katie Keller drew back to back walks.  With two outs in the inning, Carley Goetschius singled to center field, scoring Allen to tie the game at one.  Unfortunately, NIU could not add on, as Kira Mickeson popped out to end the inning.    
 
The game would not stay long for tied, as the long ball got the best of the Huskies again when UNCG's catcher Delaney Cumbie hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the third to put the Spartans up by two.  NIU's starting pitcher Sam Mallinder limited the damage, however, as she escaped the inning with no more damage done. 
 
The Huskies offense would not go away, scoring three runs in the top of the fourth inning.  Amberly Rodriguez began the inning with a walk, which was followed by a Mallinder double to deep left field.  This setup Maddie Mackey to drive in Rodriguez on a single up the middle. 
 
After Mackey's run scoring single, she was pinch ran for by Danielle Williams.  Bianca Barone then drove in two runs on an RBI single of her own.  This made the score 4-3 Huskies heading into the final third of the game. 
 
Unfortunately for NIU, UNCG tied the game with a run in the sixth inning. With neither team able to plate a run in the seventh, the game went to extra innings.
 
The Huskies were retired in order in their half of the eighth.  The game ended when Jasmine Palmer was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, giving the Spartans a 5-4 victory. 
 
NIU softball is back in action on Friday, March 13 to participate in the Liberty Tournament in Lynchburg, VA. The Huskies open the tournament with Binghamton at 8 a.m. CT. Live stats will be available on NIUHuskies.com.   
 
-NIU-