DEKALB, Ill. – Northern Illinois University softball team dropped its doubleheader with Miami at Mary M. Bell Field Saturday.
The Huskies (19-36, 13-26) dropped the first game, 9-0, before losing a slugfest with the RedHawks (45-8, 35-2). In game two, there were a combined 13 extra base hits, seven doubles and six home runs between the two teams. The big difference in the game was Miami had runners on for many of its long balls while the Huskies' homers were solo shots.
"If you score 10 runs, you should be coming out with a win at the end of the day," NIU head coach
Christina Sutcliffe said. "We're doing a really nice job of attacking their pitchers. We just have to figure out how to stop their offense a little bit better."
After getting shutout in the first game, NIU's bats came alive in the second, and it started in the first inning. Miami took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-run homer, but NIU stormed back in the bottom of the frame.
With the bases loaded and one out, NIU tied the game when
Bianca Barone reached on a fielder's choice driving in
Courtney James who led off the game with a double and
Amberly Rodriguez who reached on a single and advanced to second on the throw.
Carley Goetschius put NIU ahead 4-2 with a bases clearing double. With a runner at second and two outs,
Megan Guericke doubled to right field to score
Kara Apato from second.
Miami took a 6-5 lead in the top of the second with a four spot. However, the lead was short-lived as
Katie Keller, who set the school's single-season doubles record the day before, doubled to left to drive in James, who led off the inning with a double.
In the fourth, Miami posted another big inning with a five-run fourth to open up an 11-6 advantage. NIU's
Ellis Erickson led off the bottom of the frame with a solo blast over the left centerfield fence to pull NIU to within four.
After the RedHawks added an insurance run in the top of the fifth, the Huskies mounted a rally in the bottom of the inning.
Goetschius led off the inning with a solo home run to left field. With the bases loaded and no outs,
Mackenzie Mahy, who reached on a walk, scored on a wild pitch. Later in the inning with runners at second and third, Keller singled up the middle to drive in Apato. However, Guericke was thrown out at home to end the inning.
Keller led the way for the Huskies, going 3-for-3 with a base on balls, two RBIs and a run scored. Goetschius drove in three runs as part of a 2-for-4 day, while Apato helped set the table for the top of the order going 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
"We just kind of pass the bat," Sutcliffe said. "We're not known for home runs. We try to win our own way, pass the bat and send it to the next batter."
NIU concludes its series with the RedHawks Sunday. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. Fans can watch all the action on NIUTube or follow via live stats on NIUHuskies.com. Be sure to check NIUHuskies.com or @NIUSoftball on Twitter for any schedule changes.
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