Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, April 6
Varsity Field
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
2
vs
0
Northern Illinois
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Richards Sets Program Record In DH Split With NIU
4/6/2012 6:34:00 PM | Softball
Richards breaks program's career record for runs scored in game one with Huskies
Photo Gallery.
Re-Listen to the Games.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University softball team split its Mid-American Conference doubleheader with the visiting Northern Illinois Huskies this afternoon, taking game one, 2-0, before falling in the second game, 4-0.
The Eagles, now 15-19 (4-2 MAC) on the year, claimed its first home victory behind a stellar pitching effort by freshman Lindsay Rich (5-6). The righty hurler went the distance, striking out three and held the Huskies to just two hits in her second complete game shutout of her career.
The Eagles' three hits in game one were enough to plate two for the Green and White, with Amanda Herron, Jessica Richards and Lindsay Smith accounting for EMU's offensive production in game one.
Richards would start things for Eastern in the bottom of the first with a leadoff walk and stole her first of two bases in the contest to put a runner in scoring position for Katy Blaharski. A ground ball to the pitcher would move Richards to third, but it would be Herron's two-out double to right-center field that would bring her home to put the Eagles up, 1-0.
Not only was the run significant as it represented the eventual winning run, but it also represented Richards' 123rd career run scored—the most ever scored by an EMU player in program history. Prior to today's action, Richards was tied with Dawn Godfrey-Heck ('96) and Paula Slingerland's ('00) 122 career runs accumulated during their time donning the Green and White uniform.
In the second, Smith dug in at the plate with two outs and a runner on for the Eagles. The junior nearly made it a three-run game as she blasted a deep fly ball that was on its way out of the ballpark, but NIU's Stephanie Tofft made an acrobatic catch and snagged the ball over the fence piping before it could exit, saving two runs for her squad.
EMU would eventually score its final run of the game in the sixth. After Jenn Lucas checked into the contest to pinch run for Amanda Stanton, the freshman advanced to third following a stolen base and a Sarah Gerber sacrifice bunt. Lucas then tagged up and safely advanced the final 60 feet on a Nellie Coquillard sacrifice fly to shallow center field.
After recorded just two hits in game one, the Huskies' offense would regroup in game two and outhit the Eagles, 11-2. EMU would also strand eight runners on base.
Lauren Wells (2-8) got the nod to start the game in the circle, but she would eventually be credited with the loss after tossing 4.0 innings and giving up just one earned run on seven NIU hits.
Richards and McKenna Russ registered a hit apiece for EMU, with Richards stealing three bases to bring her season total to 28.
EMU found itself facing an early deficit through two innings of play after two NIU doubles plated their first run of the day and gave the Huskies a 1-0 lead in the second.
The Eagles nearly tied it up with a two-out, bases loaded situation in the bottom half of the frame, but the Huskies' defense caught a break on a line drive by Gerber that flew right into an NIU glove.
Jenna Ignowski took over pitching duties in the fifth, but a single, back-to-back walks and a two-run double forced a change mid-way through the inning, as Rich would stand on the mound to close out the remainder of the contest, allowing one run on two hits.
In the sixth, NIU's Erika Oswald led the frame with a single, and an errant throw that failed to get her as the lead on a sacrifice bunt placed runners at first and second for the Huskies. A ground ball out advanced the runners to second and third, and another EMU miscue allowed the away team to plate another run and take a late 4-0 lead.
Facing a four-run deficit in the bottom of the seventh, designated player Kaylee Tolliver coaxed a walk to put one on with no outs for the home team. Lucas would relieve Tolliver on the basepaths and found herself standing on third after a ground ball and passed ball. Richards drew a two-out walk and stole second to put two runners in scoring position for Blaharski, but that would be as far as the Eagles would get, as NIU's Megan Dortch (10-11) got the ground ball out to pick up the win.
The Eagles will return to Varsity Field tomorrow for a single game with Western Michigan University (15-12, 2-2 MAC). First pitch is slated for a 2 p.m. start.
Re-Listen to the Games.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University softball team split its Mid-American Conference doubleheader with the visiting Northern Illinois Huskies this afternoon, taking game one, 2-0, before falling in the second game, 4-0.
The Eagles, now 15-19 (4-2 MAC) on the year, claimed its first home victory behind a stellar pitching effort by freshman Lindsay Rich (5-6). The righty hurler went the distance, striking out three and held the Huskies to just two hits in her second complete game shutout of her career.
The Eagles' three hits in game one were enough to plate two for the Green and White, with Amanda Herron, Jessica Richards and Lindsay Smith accounting for EMU's offensive production in game one.
Richards would start things for Eastern in the bottom of the first with a leadoff walk and stole her first of two bases in the contest to put a runner in scoring position for Katy Blaharski. A ground ball to the pitcher would move Richards to third, but it would be Herron's two-out double to right-center field that would bring her home to put the Eagles up, 1-0.
Not only was the run significant as it represented the eventual winning run, but it also represented Richards' 123rd career run scored—the most ever scored by an EMU player in program history. Prior to today's action, Richards was tied with Dawn Godfrey-Heck ('96) and Paula Slingerland's ('00) 122 career runs accumulated during their time donning the Green and White uniform.
In the second, Smith dug in at the plate with two outs and a runner on for the Eagles. The junior nearly made it a three-run game as she blasted a deep fly ball that was on its way out of the ballpark, but NIU's Stephanie Tofft made an acrobatic catch and snagged the ball over the fence piping before it could exit, saving two runs for her squad.
EMU would eventually score its final run of the game in the sixth. After Jenn Lucas checked into the contest to pinch run for Amanda Stanton, the freshman advanced to third following a stolen base and a Sarah Gerber sacrifice bunt. Lucas then tagged up and safely advanced the final 60 feet on a Nellie Coquillard sacrifice fly to shallow center field.
After recorded just two hits in game one, the Huskies' offense would regroup in game two and outhit the Eagles, 11-2. EMU would also strand eight runners on base.
Lauren Wells (2-8) got the nod to start the game in the circle, but she would eventually be credited with the loss after tossing 4.0 innings and giving up just one earned run on seven NIU hits.
Richards and McKenna Russ registered a hit apiece for EMU, with Richards stealing three bases to bring her season total to 28.
EMU found itself facing an early deficit through two innings of play after two NIU doubles plated their first run of the day and gave the Huskies a 1-0 lead in the second.
The Eagles nearly tied it up with a two-out, bases loaded situation in the bottom half of the frame, but the Huskies' defense caught a break on a line drive by Gerber that flew right into an NIU glove.
Jenna Ignowski took over pitching duties in the fifth, but a single, back-to-back walks and a two-run double forced a change mid-way through the inning, as Rich would stand on the mound to close out the remainder of the contest, allowing one run on two hits.
In the sixth, NIU's Erika Oswald led the frame with a single, and an errant throw that failed to get her as the lead on a sacrifice bunt placed runners at first and second for the Huskies. A ground ball out advanced the runners to second and third, and another EMU miscue allowed the away team to plate another run and take a late 4-0 lead.
Facing a four-run deficit in the bottom of the seventh, designated player Kaylee Tolliver coaxed a walk to put one on with no outs for the home team. Lucas would relieve Tolliver on the basepaths and found herself standing on third after a ground ball and passed ball. Richards drew a two-out walk and stole second to put two runners in scoring position for Blaharski, but that would be as far as the Eagles would get, as NIU's Megan Dortch (10-11) got the ground ball out to pick up the win.
The Eagles will return to Varsity Field tomorrow for a single game with Western Michigan University (15-12, 2-2 MAC). First pitch is slated for a 2 p.m. start.
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