CHICAGO – The Northern Illinois University softball team fell to DePaul 6-5 as the Blue Demons rallied for five runs in the bottom of the seventh to steal the victory from NIU at Cacciatore Stadium Wednesday afternoon.
After falling behind, 1-0, on a double steal in the bottom of the third, NIU (8-18) tied the game in the top of the fourth when
Kelly Walinski coaxed a bases loaded walk.
The Huskies took advantage of a Blue DePaul error in the top of the fifth to open up a 4-1 advantage.
Kara Apato began the rally when she reached on a lead-off single. She then scored when DePaul's first baseman threw the ball over the second baseman's head on a
Mackenzie Mahy slap hit.
Three batters later, with two outs and Mahy at third,
Carley Goetschius homered to center field to give the Huskies a 4-1 lead. The Huskies added an insurance run in the sixth when
Izzy Smith blasted a solo homer to center. Unfortunately, that would be the last run scored for the Huskies.
DePaul came back with five runs in the bottom of the seventh. After a single and a walk put two on, Angela Scalzitti pulled the Blue Demons to within three runs on an RBI single. A sacrifice fly platted the second run of the inning before Brooke Johnson delivered the big blow with a walk-off three-run home run to center field.
Goetschius led the way for the Huskies from the plate, going 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a walk.
Delaney Ostrowski was solid in the circle going three innings allowing one run and two walks as the starter.
NIU returns to action Friday when the Huskies open a weekend series with conference foe Western Michigan. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. CT. Fans can watch the game via NIUTube or follow via livestats on NIUHuskies.com.
-NIU-
