The Northern Illinois University softball team wrapped up its six-game road trip splitting its doubleheader with Wisconsin, taking the first game, but falling in the nightcap at Goodman Diamond on Tuesday afternoon.
The Huskies (19-25) took Game One, posting a 5-4 extra-inning victory over the home-standing Badgers. With Zoe Sinner, the last batter of the previous inning placed on second per international softball rules, Northern Illinois was able to score the game-winning run on a one-out double by Michelle Williams in the top of the eighth.
Wisconsin (12-26) threatened in their half of the eighth. With a runner on third and one out, Andrea Colosimo gunned down the Badger runner at home plate attempting to score on a hard hit ball by Kendall Grimm. Sophomore Morgan Bittner got the next batter to ground into a fielder’s choice to end the game and give NIU the victory.
A four-run second inning by the Huskies gave NIU the early lead in the contest an RBI single by Williams began the scoring, while the big blow in the inning came off the bat of Amanda Sheppard. With the bases loaded and two outs, Sheppard doubled, clearing the bases and giving NIU a 4-0 lead.
“She’s a defense major out there for us,” NIU coach Lindsay Chouinard said of Sheppard. “She came up big for us in the first game.”
However, the lead would not hold up as the Badgers tied the game with two runs in the both second and fifth innings, but were unable to take the lead.
Williams led the way for NIU, going 3-for-4 with two runs batted in and a run scored. Sheppard finished 1-for-3 with three RBI, her only hit the double in the second. Bittner improved to 14-10 on the season, allowing four runs on seven hits in eight innings of work.
“Obviously Michelle had multiple hits in very big opportunities for us,” Chouinard said. “For her, as a senior, it’s nice to see her get those clutch hits for her team.”
A three-spot in the bottom of the sixth proved to be the difference as Northern Illinois dropped Game Two, 4-3. Trailing 3-1 heading into the inning, Wisconsin pulled to within one on a one-out single. A two-out triple by Letty Olivarez drove in two runs to give the Badgers the 4-3 advantage. NIU had runners at first and second with one outs, but they were stranded to end the NIU threat.
Williams continued her clutch hitting in the second game with a two-out, two-run single to right center field. She went 1-for-3 with two RBI.
