PHOENIX – A three-run fifth propels the Northern Illinois University softball team to a 6-3 win over Grand Canyon at GCU Softball Stadium on Wednesday.
 
Bianca Barone delivered the big blow of the game with a three-run homer, her first of the season, to centerfield.
 
NIU (4-6) jumped on top early with a one-out RBI double by Katie Keller in the top of the first. The Huskies took a 3-0 lead with a pair of runs in the third. Keller came through with another RBI double and then scored on a single by Carley Goetschius.
 
Claire Norred was effective in the circle, holding Grand Canyon (9-10) to three hits through the first three innings before the Lopes scored a run in the fourth, another in the fifth and one more in the sixth.
 
"After playing a couple days, hopefully we are settling into a rhythm and building our character," NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe said. "We had some huge clutch plays defensively to limit runs to one per inning."
 
Norred pitched out of a jam in the bottom of the seventh. After two quick outs, the Lopes loaded the bases, with back-to-back singles and a walk, bringing the winning run to the plate. Norred recorded her third strike out of the game and give the Huskies their first win on their Arizona trip.
 
The Huskies return to the diamond Friday, March 12 when NIU takes on Baylor in the first game of the Lopes Up Classic. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. CT.
 
-NIU-