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Northern Illinois Uses Two-Run Sixth For The Win

For the second straight day Northern Illinois got on the board first, scoring with two outs in the bottom of the second. The run was made possible after the NIU runner moved to third on a UB error. She was driven home on the next play with a single up the middle.

Sophie Barstad (Canby, OR/Canby) pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the third inning, getting a ground out, and keeping the Bulls within one run.

Mary Russell

UB would take the lead in the top of the fifth inning on a defensive error by the Huskies. With the bases loaded Laura Kor (Beaverton,OR/Westview) hit a grounder back to the pitcher, however she threw the ball away going to first bases, allowing Mary Russell (Apalachin, NY/Owego Free Academy) and Kerry Caffazzo (Everett, MA/Everett) to score. Kor was thrown out on the play as she was rounding second.

The lead would be short-lived as Northern Illinois tied the game back up in the bottom half of the inning on a single to center field. However with runners on second and third with one out, Barstad got one batter to strikeout and the next to fly out to left field.

Lacy Schneider

The Huskies regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth as they put runners on the corners with nobody out. Barstad was able to strikeout the next batter and NIU took away the double play as Ellen Stoddard stole second base, giving the Huskies two runners in scoring position with just one out. Barstad got the next batter to fly out to shallow right field, which didn't allow either base runner to advance. However, with two out, Kelly Park hit a double to left center, scoring both runs and giving the Huskies a two-run advantage. The inning ended as Lacy Schneider (Idyllwild, CA/Hemet) threw out Krista McPhearson trying to steal second.

In the seventh, the Bulls began to mount the comeback. With one out, Russell hit a home run to left field, putting the Bulls within one. However that is as close as they would come in the contest.

For the second straight game, Barstad pitched the complete game allowing eight hits and four runs, three of those earned. She struck out five in the game. Lindsey LaChiana picked up the win for the second straight day, pitching two innings and allowing just the home run to Russell. She also struck out one.

The Bulls remain on the road as they travel to St. Bonaventure on Thursday for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 3:00 pm.