CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Led by a combined four RBI and four hits from senior Katie Keller, the Northern Illinois University softball team swept a pair of games to open the Frost Classic at UT-Chattanooga Friday afternoon and evening.

The Huskies defeated the host Chattanooga Mocs 6-1 to open the day and closed out with a 10-3 win over the Butler Bulldogs in the nightcap.

"Anytime you sweep the day it's a good day at the ballpark," Huskies head coach Christina Sutcliffe said. "Our pitching held its own the entire day, but what was really important was our offense really got going late in the games and we put together some great innings that pushed us over the top."

Keller drove in a pair of runs in each game and was nearly perfect at the plate in Game 2 as she went 3 for 4 with a double and stolen base. NIU plated three runs in the fifth and sixth innings against the Bulldogs, and capped off the victory with four in the seventh to even their overall record to 3-3.

After a solid 3 1/3 innings from sophomore pitcher Emily Dato, sophomore Claire Norred earned the win in relief as she tossed 3 2/3 innings. She struck out three batters while walking two in picking up her first win of the season. Junior Delaney Ostrowski picked up the Game 1 win as she went six innings and allowed only one run on three hits.  

"I think all three of our pitchers are doing a really good job in doing their roles," Sutcliffe said. "They're doing as much as they can and passing the ball to the next one. They've kind of owned that and they're all working together. They're equally different from each other so when the next one comes in it's a different look for the next set of hitters so it works out really well for them."

NIU connected for six hits in Game 1 and scored three runs in the third, two in the fifth and one in the seventh, an RBI single from Keller that plated senior Kara Apato, who walked and stole second. In all, the Huskies laced three doubles over both games with Avery Carnahan and Ellis Erickson each connecting for one. Both had a pair of RBI as well for the Huskies, who have an early second day at the tournament as they open play with Eastern Kentucky at 9 a.m. followed by Southern Illinois University at 11:30 a.m.

"We're going to have an eight-hour turnaround, which isn't great on the body but they're focused and ready to go," Sutcliffe said. "We just need to get a little bit of rest and then just let adrenaline take us through the rest of the day."

-NIU-