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Danielle Stewart
UNI Athletics, Landon Wirt
8
Winner Northern Illinois NIU 1-0
6
Western Illinois WIU 0-1
Winner
Northern Illinois NIU
1-0
8
Final
6
Western Illinois WIU
0-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Northern Illinois NIU 0 0 5 0 2 0 1 8 10 2
Western Illinois WIU 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 6 3 0

W: Stewart, Danielle (1-0) L: Wools, L. (0-1)

Game Recap: Softball |

Huskies Hold Off Leathernecks for First Win of Season

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa— Holding off a charge late in the game, the Northern Illinois University Huskies softball program opened the 2024 season with an 8-6 win over the Western Illinois University Leathernecks at the Doc Halverson UNI-Dome Classic.

"We came out from the swinging from first pitch, and we were calm when we took to the field on both sides," said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe "We were able to clean up some things late in the game and get the outs that we needed to. We are going to take it one inning at a time and continue to compete against some tough teams this weekend."

The Huskies left two runners on base in the first inning before Ellis Erickson (Lutz, Fla./Freedom) led the third inning off with a double to center field. Erickson claimed the first run of the day for the Huskies on a passed ball. Avery Carnahan (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston) stole two bases before scoring with Katy Ramage (Germantown Hills, Ill./Metamora Township) on a 2 RBI single from Caitlin Shumaker (Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine).

Mirroring her teammate, Shumaker stole two bases before scoring with Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill/Lincoln-Way East) on Trinity Jones Estrada's (Sylmar, Calif./John F. Kennedy) 2 RBI single to center field.

Adding to their 5-0 lead over the Leathernecks, Stewart hit the first home run of the season for the Huskies, sending the ball to left field. Ally Rodriguez (Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield East) scored on the home run as the Huskies collected two hits in the fifth inning.

The Huskie pitchers did not allow a hit from the Leathernecks until the bottom of the fifth and continued to keep them off the scoreboard.

The Leathernecks started to stage a comeback in the sixth inning, scoring three runs and one error by the Huskies.

Brianna Pechman (West Chicago, Ill./West Chicago Community) scored the final run of the game for the Huskies, crossing the plate on Jones Estrada's RBI double to center field.

With one last final offensive attack at the Huskies, the Leathernecks loaded the bases quickly in the final inning. The Leathernecks added three runs on two hits to their scoreline as their comeback fell short against the Huskies.

The Huskies will take on Nebraska Omaha on February 10 at 3:30 p.m. on day two of the Doc Halverson UNI-Dome Classic. The Huskies will also face tournament hosts Northern Iowa on February 10 at 6 p.m.

Huskie Notes
  • Shumaker's two stolen bases in today's game make her career total 49, just ten away from the school record.
  • Stewart allowed only one hit and struck out four batters during her five innings
  • Jones Estrada, Erickson, and Madison Mathews were the only Huskies to record two hits in the game.
 
 
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