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Softball Battles Huskies In DeKalb

The Bulls suffered a 5-3 setback in game one and fell 3-2 in the nightcap.

After a scoreless first inning in the day’s opening game, NIU tacked three runs on the board in the bottom of the second and added single runs in both the fifth and the sixth innings to take a 5-0 advantage into the top of the seventh.

Erin Zilka

The Bulls, however, mounted a seventh inning rally to keep the game within reach. Lacy Schneider (Idyllwild, CA/Hemet) led-off the inning, reaching base on a Northern Illinois error. After Schneider was replaced with a pinch runner, Candice Sheehan (Orange, CA/El Modena) reached first on a fielder’s choice, with the inning’s first out recorded at second base.

After a Sheehan stolen base, Kristen Gallipani (Brewster, NY/Brewster) singled to left field to advance Sheehan to third. Erin Zilka (Benicia, CA/Benicia) then singled to right field to score both Gallipani and Sheehan. After Marcy Hansen (Claremont, CA/Claremont) reached on a fielder’s choice, with Zilka out at second, Mary Russell (Apalachin, NY/Owego) tripled to right-center to pick up the RBI, making the score 5-3.

Unfortunately, Buffalo’s rally was too late, as the inning’s third out was recorded by the next batter.

Katie Ivancich (Dyer, IN/Andrean) took the loss on the mound for UB, throwing the complete game while giving up five hits and zero earned runs.

Marcy Hansen

In game two, the Bulls jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first, with Zilka leading-off the game with a double to center. Hansen then followed with a single to score Zilka. With one down, Russell found her way to first after getting hit by a pitch and Wendy Sheehan (Orange, CA/El Modena/Bowling Green) advanced Russell to second after putting the ball in play and reaching on a fielder’s choice. Sharon Barr (Coarsegold, CA/Yosemite Union) then studded the bases with a single to left with Alex Bejarano (Chandler, AZ/Chandler) picking up the RBI after reaching on an error.

Buffalo maintained its 2-0 lead through three innings until the Huskies scored one in the bottom of the fourth and later tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth.

After a scoreless sixth for both teams, NIU stole the game in the bottom of the seventh, scoring the winning run on two hits.

Sharon Barr

Barr was credited with the loss on the mound, going the distance, giving up five hits.

Zilka finished the day 4-for-8 from the plate while Hansen finished the day with three hits and Barr turned in two hits.

The Bulls continue their weekend travels with single games on Saturday and Sunday against Western Michigan in Kalamazoo. Saturday’s game is set for 2:00 pm while Sunday’s contest is slated for 1:00 pm.