Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, March 30
DeKalb, Ill.
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
4
at
5
Northern Illinois
Softball Splits MAC Season Opener, Michelle Lloyd Throws One Hitter
3/30/2007 7:49:10 PM | Softball
Lauren Clark breaks EMU career home run record
Game one box score
Game two box score
DEKALB, Ill. – The Eastern Michigan University softball team split a doubleheader with Northern Illinois University, in the Mid-American Conference season opener, Friday afternoon, here at Mary Bell Field. EMU dropped game one, 5-4, and won the night cap, 5-0. In game one senior Lauren Clark blasted her 20th career home run, breaking the EMU career home run record. During the second game, senior pitcher Michelle Lloyd gave up a single to start the game, but did not surrender another hit the remainder of the contest for a complete game one-hit shutout.
In the twin bill, Clark and junior Heather Giroux each registered four hits and scored three runs. All four of Clark’s hits went for extra bases, with three doubles and the recording breaking homer. Freshman Jenny Scherer also hit one over the fence. Clark reached base to start both games. Since moving to the lead-off spot Clark has reached base in eight of EMU’s 12 games, in the opening frame for the Eagles.
In game one, Clark went 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs, two RBI and a home run. Giroux and junior Jessica Grant each posted two hits. Senior Aimee Woodrum (3-5) pitched the complete game, recording three strikeouts.
The Eagles were down 5-2 entering the seventh and final inning. A two-out single by Giroux followed by a homer to center field by Clark, brought the tying run to the plate. However, a ground out to the first baseman would end the game, with the come-back bid falling just short.
Clark started the game with a double and later scored on an RBI ground out off the bat of senior Lindsay Schmid, giving EMU an early 1-0 lead. The Huskies took the lead after they plated four runs in the bottom half of the first highlighted by an RBI triple by Ellen Stoddard, 4-1.
The Eagle cut into the NIU lead in the fifth, after an RBI double by Giroux, who was thrown out third base attempting to stretch the play into a triple 4-2. Once again the Huskies answered in the bottom half of the inning with two runs, extending the lead to 5-2.
In game two, a four-run Eagle sixth inning broke a scoreless tie and Eastern added an insurance run in the seventh to secure the victory. The complete game shutout was the sixth for Lloyd’s Green and White career, and first of the season. Lloyd (3-5) recorded eight strikeouts, while facing just 23 batters, two more then the minimum (21) for a seven inning game. She retired the final 15 batters in a row to end the game.
Scherer cranked out two extra-bases hits, a double and her third home run of the season. Giroux recorded a perfect 2-for-2 game, while Clark and sophomore Heather Han each hit a double.
Pitching dominated the game early on, with a combined three hits by both teams heading into the sixth inning. In the sixth frame the Eagle got a hold of NIU pitcher Tyran Hagemann (4-5) for four runs off four hits, including RBI hits by Clark and Schmid to go with Scherer’s two run long ball.
An RBI single by junior Ashley Strauss added the Eagles’ final run in the seventh.
The EMU softball team (8-15) will continue Mid-American Conference play with back-to-back games with Western Michigan University, March 30-April 1. The games are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively at Fran Ebert Field.
Game two box score
DEKALB, Ill. – The Eastern Michigan University softball team split a doubleheader with Northern Illinois University, in the Mid-American Conference season opener, Friday afternoon, here at Mary Bell Field. EMU dropped game one, 5-4, and won the night cap, 5-0. In game one senior Lauren Clark blasted her 20th career home run, breaking the EMU career home run record. During the second game, senior pitcher Michelle Lloyd gave up a single to start the game, but did not surrender another hit the remainder of the contest for a complete game one-hit shutout.
In the twin bill, Clark and junior Heather Giroux each registered four hits and scored three runs. All four of Clark’s hits went for extra bases, with three doubles and the recording breaking homer. Freshman Jenny Scherer also hit one over the fence. Clark reached base to start both games. Since moving to the lead-off spot Clark has reached base in eight of EMU’s 12 games, in the opening frame for the Eagles.
In game one, Clark went 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs, two RBI and a home run. Giroux and junior Jessica Grant each posted two hits. Senior Aimee Woodrum (3-5) pitched the complete game, recording three strikeouts.
The Eagles were down 5-2 entering the seventh and final inning. A two-out single by Giroux followed by a homer to center field by Clark, brought the tying run to the plate. However, a ground out to the first baseman would end the game, with the come-back bid falling just short.
Clark started the game with a double and later scored on an RBI ground out off the bat of senior Lindsay Schmid, giving EMU an early 1-0 lead. The Huskies took the lead after they plated four runs in the bottom half of the first highlighted by an RBI triple by Ellen Stoddard, 4-1.
The Eagle cut into the NIU lead in the fifth, after an RBI double by Giroux, who was thrown out third base attempting to stretch the play into a triple 4-2. Once again the Huskies answered in the bottom half of the inning with two runs, extending the lead to 5-2.
In game two, a four-run Eagle sixth inning broke a scoreless tie and Eastern added an insurance run in the seventh to secure the victory. The complete game shutout was the sixth for Lloyd’s Green and White career, and first of the season. Lloyd (3-5) recorded eight strikeouts, while facing just 23 batters, two more then the minimum (21) for a seven inning game. She retired the final 15 batters in a row to end the game.
Scherer cranked out two extra-bases hits, a double and her third home run of the season. Giroux recorded a perfect 2-for-2 game, while Clark and sophomore Heather Han each hit a double.
Pitching dominated the game early on, with a combined three hits by both teams heading into the sixth inning. In the sixth frame the Eagle got a hold of NIU pitcher Tyran Hagemann (4-5) for four runs off four hits, including RBI hits by Clark and Schmid to go with Scherer’s two run long ball.
An RBI single by junior Ashley Strauss added the Eagles’ final run in the seventh.
The EMU softball team (8-15) will continue Mid-American Conference play with back-to-back games with Western Michigan University, March 30-April 1. The games are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively at Fran Ebert Field.
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