Softball Drops Nine-Inning Heartbreaker to NIU

Box score.

DEKALB, Ill. – The Eastern Michigan University softball team dropped a 5-4, nine-inning heartbreaker to Northern Illinois University. After an hour rain delay, the Eagles came out in the top of the ninth to plate a run, but NIU put two on the board in the bottom half to earn the Mid-American Conference victory.

With the loss, EMU falls to 16-29 (4-13 MAC) on the season while NIU moves to 14-32 (9-8 MAC). Sophomore pitcher Jaclyn Caro (Chino, Calif.-St. Lucy's Priory) went the distance in the circle, striking out a career-best 10 batters. Caro (11-13) pitched 9.0 innings, giving up five unearned runs on eight hits.

Kaylee Tolliver (Amanda, Ohio-Amanda Clearcreek) went 2-for-3 with two RBI, including her second home run of the season to lead the Eagles offensively. Stacie Skodinski (South Bend, Ind.-Washington), Michelle Hletko (Westmont, Ill.-Westmont), Sarah Gerber (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover) were the other Eagles to tally hits on the afternoon.

After a rain delay of about an hour, McKenna Russ (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover) led off the ninth with a single to left field. Hletko was then hit by a pitch, giving the Eagles two base runners with no outs. A double steal advanced the duo, with Lauren Delapaz's (Plymouth, Mich.-Canton) sacrifice fly to left field bringing Russ home to put the Eagles on top, 4-3.

The Huskies then countered with two runs in their half of the inning to earn the victory. With the bases loaded and two out, Jenna Roberts singled to plate two runs and end the game in favor of NIU.

The Eagles put two runs on the board in the second frame to stake an early lead. Skodinski led off the frame with a single up the middle and stole second before Tolliver came through with a round tripper to put the Eagles up 2-0.

NIU evened the score in the sixth, as a Bailey Ouellette triple down the right field line plated two runs. Neither team would score in the seventh, sending the game into extra frames.

In the eighth, the Eagles retook the lead, 3-2 off a run by Gerber. The freshman doubled to left center to reach base, crossing the plate when Jenny Scherer (Stow, Ohio-Stow-Munroe) reached on an error by the pitcher.

The Huskies responded in their half of the inning, taking advantage of an EMU error to knot the game at 3-3. With the bases loaded and only one out, the Eagles were able to get out of the jam when Caro snagged a line drive and fired to Skodinski at second for the double play.

NIU and EMU conclude their series tomorrow at 1 p.m. (CST).

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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