TOLEDO, Ohio – The Northern Illinois University softball team took the series opener at Toledo with a 4-3 victory over the Rockets at Scott Park.
 
A four-run fifth proved to be the difference for NIU (8-15, 3-6). The Huskies received some timely hitting and capitalized on a pair of Toledo errors in the frame.
 
Bianca Barone led off the inning with a single down the right field line. After Ellis Erickson was hit by a pitch, Amberly Rodriguez reached on an error when she laid down a sacrifice bunt to load the bases.
 
A strike out and line out brought pinch hitter Delaney Ostrowski to the plate. The Huskie righthander singled to center driving in a pair and tying the game, 2-2. Mackenzie Mahy then put the Huskies ahead with a single to drive in Rodriguez.
 
Following a Katie Keller walk, Carley Goetschius drove in an insurance run for NIU when she reached on a Rocket error to score Kara Apato, who reentered the game after being pinch hit for by Ostrowski, from third. That would be all the scoring for the Huskies on the day.
 
Toledo (13-10, 3-4) took an early 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Rockets pulled to within a run with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth, but that would be as close as they would get.
 
Claire Norred earned her third win of the season allowing three runs, two earned, on seven hits and a walk while striking out seven.
 
"Today was a true team win," NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe said. "It was great seeing the team bounce back and take the lead after Toledo scored. We made some great defensive plays late that got us out of a jam. Delaney had a key pinch hit to start the rally with two outs. It was nice to see our bench be difference makers."
 
NIU and Toledo continue their series tomorrow with a doubleheader. First pitch for game one is set for 12 p.m. CT.
 
-NIU-