Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Northern Illinois
Eagles Soar Past Huskies, 8-3
4/2/2006 4:09:08 PM | Softball
EMU softball blasts three home runs in MAC contest
YPSILANTI, Mich. – The Eastern Michigan University softball team used three home runs to defeat a visiting Northern Illinois team 8-3, here today at Varsity Field in Mid-American Conference action. The Eagles have won nine of their past 10 games.
With the win, EMU improves to 15-16 overall and 3-1 in conference play, while the Huskies fall to 10-13 overall and remain winless in MAC action at 0-4.
Sophomore first baseman Ashley Strauss (Trenton, Mich.-Trenton), who hit a two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the eighth inning yesterday, homered again in her first at bat today. She finished today’s game 2-for-3 with three RBI and scored twice. Senior catcher Katie Grens (Elgin, Ill.-Elgin) went 2-for-3 at the plate with a two-run home run, while junior outfielder Stephanie Sabo (Allen Park, Mich.-Cabrini) also homered in the contest.
Junior pitcher Michelle Lloyd (Akron, Ohio-Archbishop Hoban) pitched 5 and 1/3 innings in the victory, moving to 3-7 on the season. Junior pitcher Aimee Woodrum (Cincinnati, Ohio-Sycamore) tossed the final 1 and 2/3 innings allowing just one hit.
The Eagles scored first in the bottom of the first after Strauss’ solo blast. EMU added four runs in the bottom of the second after Strauss hit a two-run single through the right side of the infield. Junior shortstop Lauren Clark (Flat Rock, Mich.-New Boston Huron) followed with an RBI double that hit off the top of the left field wall. Junior outfielder Lindsay Schmid (Madison, Ohio-Madison) singled to left field to plate the fourth run of the inning, giving the Eagles a 5-0 advantage.
EMU piled on two more runs in the third after a walk and a two-run blast from Grens. NIU scored all of its runs in the sixth inning highlighted by back-to-back doubles and a two-run homer run by Michelle Nendza. The Eagles added the final run of the game after Sabo led off the sixth with a home run.
The Eagles return to the diamond April 4, with a double header with Notre Dame at the Irish’s Ivy Field. Game time is set for 5 p.m.
