March 25, 2007
Box Score
IOWA CITY, Iowa - The Northern Illinois University softball team split its two games on the final day of the Hawkeye Classic, defeating Ball State and falling to host Iowa Sunday afternoon to take third place in the Hawkeye Classic.
The Huskies (10-11) opened the day with a 6-4 victory over Ball State in a non-conference tilt. NIU had a solid day offensively with the six runs coming on 12 hits. The Huskies started the scoring early with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Krista McPherson got things started for NIU with a leadoff double.
She advanced to third on a Krystn Sendejas bunt single. Sendejas moved herself into scoring position after stealing second. Michelle Nendza came up with two on and nobody out and delivered a single to left driving in McPherson and Sendejas advanced to third. An Ellen Stoddard single to right scored Sendejas. Ashely Clement drew a bases loaded walk scoring the third run in the inning for the Huskies.
Ball State responded with two runs in the top of the second. The Huskies added a run in the bottom of the when Kelly Park drove in Bailey Ouellette. Renee Dearborn kicked off a two-run fourth when she hit a leadoff homer to give the Huskies a 4-2 lead. It was her first collegiate home run. Nendza had her second RBI of the game when she singled in McPherson.
Ball State added two more runs in the top of the fifth, but that was as close as the Cardinals would get. Taryn Hagemann pitched seven strong innings allowing four runs on seven hits for the victory. McPherson, Nendza and Stoddard all went 2-2 with Nendza driving in two runs and Stoddard a lone RBI.
"We had a good day at the plate. We're starting to hit the ball better. We moved some runners along," said head coach Donna Martin. "We played very well on defense."
The Huskies dropped the nightcap with Iowa however, 2-0. The Huskies left seven runners on base, mustering four hits. Park was a perfect 3-3 from the plate. Freshman Kate Greenough suffered the loss, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out three and walking none.
"It was a little frustrating," Martin said. "Kate pitched really well, and we played well defensively. We out played them in all facets of the game except the one that counts. We get another shot at them on Wednesday. That should be a good home opener."
The Huskies will be back in action Wednesday when they take on the Iowa Hawkeyes in the 2007 home opener at Mary M. Bell Field. The game will be available on GameTracker on niuhuskies.com.
