Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, April 1
DeKalb, Ill.
3 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
6
at
8
Northern Illinois
Lauren Wells
Softball Opens MAC Play with Doubleheader Split at NIU
4/1/2011 10:54:20 PM | Softball
EMU drops game one, 8-6, but bounce back to take game two, 10-1, in six innings
Box Scores:Game One, Game Two.
DEKALB, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) — Untimely errors cost the Eastern Michigan University softball team game one of their Mid-American Conference doubleheader at Northern Illinois University, but a ten-run offensive outing helped capture the night cap to split with the Huskies this afternoon, April 1, at Mary M. Bell field in DeKalb, Ill.
EMU dropped game one, 8-6, but managed to turn things around in the game two, outscoring the Huskies 10-1 in six innings.
The Eagles move to 14-5 overall, with an even 1-1 mark in the MAC. The Huskies are now 11-15 on the season (1-1 MAC).
The EMU offense provided plenty of run support in the opening contest, scoring six runs on 12 hits through seven innings, but four errors plagued the Green and White as they contributed to five unearned runs in the Eagles 8-6 loss to the Huskies.
Jenna Ignowski (Niles, Mich.-Niles) gave up three earned runs in the loss, dropping to 8-2 on the year. The sophomore struck out six while walking two of 26 batters faced.
Sarah Gerber (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover) was 3-for-3 in the game, while McKenna Russ (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover) went 3-for-4 for Green and White.
Russ tied an NCAA Division I record after her second hit in the game, as it was her 11th consecutive hit in 11 at bats. Her efforts tie her for third with former Florida Gator, Lindsey Cameron, who strung together 11 consecutive hits from March 19-25 of the 2005 season.
The Eagles fell into an early three run deficit after an error and four NIU hits in the bottom of the first. After a fielder's choice and back-to-back singles, the Huskies loaded the bases and took the lead on a Wulbecker walk. The home team managed to string together two more singles that posted two more runs on the board for an early 3-0 lead.
EMU responded in the top of the second inning, scoring one run on three hits. Singles from Gerber and Russ placed runners at first and second, setting up a two out, RBI single for Nellie Coquillard (Niles, Mich.-Niles).
The Huskies reclaimed their three run lead in the bottom of the same frame. Andrea Colosimo singled to right, and a Stephanie Tofft double to left center waved her around to plate another NIU run, setting the score at 4-1.
Four EMU hits helped generate another run in the third, cutting the Huskies' lead to two. Jessica Richards (Canton, Ohio-Jackson) led off the inning with a single through the left side, but was later called out for leaving early at first base.
Stacie Skodinski (South Bend, Ind.-Washington) increased her hit streak to eight games with a single to shortstop and advanced to second on a past ball.
The Huskies were then charged with their first error of the game after NIU's Nicole Gremillion mishandled Gerber's single to left field, giving Skodinski the opportunity to come around and score the Eagles second run of the ball game.
Entering the sixth inning, the Huskies held a 5-2 lead over EMU until Courtney Nicholson (Navarre, Ohio-Canton Catholic Central) drove a two-run shot over the right field fence to bring the Eagles within one.
More miscues in the sixth allowed the Huskies to take an 8-4 lead.
EMU showed fight in the seventh, starting with a two out, solo shot from Skodinski to cut the deficit to three. The home run was the senior's fourth in four games, as she has hit a long ball in six of the Eagles last eight contests.
Following Skodinski's homer to left, Gerber and Russ posted singles of their own, placing EMU runners at first and second. Kaylee Tolliver (Amanda, Ohio-Clearcreek) came off the bench and executed a pinch hit, RBI single up the middle to bring the game within two, but NIU ended the threat and secured the win.
The Eagles pulled it together defensively in the night cap with a perfect, error free performance in the field. Offensively, they hammered out 11 hits, with three players posting multiple-hit performances.
Russ led EMU with a 2-for-2 effort at the dish, scoring three times and knocking in two after hitting her fifth home in four game. In her past 15 at bats, the junior has registered 14 hits to string together four consecutive multiple-hit contests.
The Eagles were first to strike in game two. In the top of the second, Russ doubled down the left field line and advanced to third on a single by Tolliver.
With runners at the corners, Coquillard singled to center field to plate Russ and put the Eagles up, 1-0.
A single from Richards loaded the bases for Lauren Delapaz (Plymouth, Mich.-Canton). The senior drilled a two-RBI single up the middle before getting picked off trying to advance to second on the play.
NIU's Adriana Sanchez homered in the bottom of the first, but Lauren Wells (Lowell, Ind.-Lowell) regained control of the inning by striking out two and forced a line out to get out of the inning.
Russ hit her fifth home run of the week in the third inning, increasing the Eagles lead to three.
After two scoreless innings, Eastern Michigan put six runs on the board in the top of the sixth. Russ started the rally as she drew a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. She was eventually waved around to score from second on a Nicholson double to right field.
Tolliver singled for her second hit of the game to put runners on the corners for EMU.
A one-out double by Coquillard knocked in two more for the Eagles, swelling the Green and White's lead to five.
With runners in scoring position, EMU swapped speed for power, as Allison Scherer (Stow, Ohio-Stow-Munroe) was asked to step to the plate in place of Katy Blaharski (Carleton, Mich.-Airport) with one out. The junior cashed in both runs on a triple to right center field to bring the score to 8-1.
The Eagles added two more runs before taking the game in six innings with a 10-1 final.
With the win, Wells improves to 4-1 on the season. The freshman fanned10 NIU batters and held the Huskies to just one run on four hits. Her 10 strike outs ties her career-high, which she recently recorded on March 26 in the Eagles 3-1 win over Austin Peay State University.
EMU will now head to Kalamazoo, Mich. for single games scheduled for Saturday and Sunday with Western Michigan University. Saturday's contest with the Broncos is slated for a 2 p.m. start.
DEKALB, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) — Untimely errors cost the Eastern Michigan University softball team game one of their Mid-American Conference doubleheader at Northern Illinois University, but a ten-run offensive outing helped capture the night cap to split with the Huskies this afternoon, April 1, at Mary M. Bell field in DeKalb, Ill.
EMU dropped game one, 8-6, but managed to turn things around in the game two, outscoring the Huskies 10-1 in six innings.
The Eagles move to 14-5 overall, with an even 1-1 mark in the MAC. The Huskies are now 11-15 on the season (1-1 MAC).
The EMU offense provided plenty of run support in the opening contest, scoring six runs on 12 hits through seven innings, but four errors plagued the Green and White as they contributed to five unearned runs in the Eagles 8-6 loss to the Huskies.
Jenna Ignowski (Niles, Mich.-Niles) gave up three earned runs in the loss, dropping to 8-2 on the year. The sophomore struck out six while walking two of 26 batters faced.
Sarah Gerber (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover) was 3-for-3 in the game, while McKenna Russ (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover) went 3-for-4 for Green and White.
Russ tied an NCAA Division I record after her second hit in the game, as it was her 11th consecutive hit in 11 at bats. Her efforts tie her for third with former Florida Gator, Lindsey Cameron, who strung together 11 consecutive hits from March 19-25 of the 2005 season.
The Eagles fell into an early three run deficit after an error and four NIU hits in the bottom of the first. After a fielder's choice and back-to-back singles, the Huskies loaded the bases and took the lead on a Wulbecker walk. The home team managed to string together two more singles that posted two more runs on the board for an early 3-0 lead.
EMU responded in the top of the second inning, scoring one run on three hits. Singles from Gerber and Russ placed runners at first and second, setting up a two out, RBI single for Nellie Coquillard (Niles, Mich.-Niles).
The Huskies reclaimed their three run lead in the bottom of the same frame. Andrea Colosimo singled to right, and a Stephanie Tofft double to left center waved her around to plate another NIU run, setting the score at 4-1.
Four EMU hits helped generate another run in the third, cutting the Huskies' lead to two. Jessica Richards (Canton, Ohio-Jackson) led off the inning with a single through the left side, but was later called out for leaving early at first base.
Stacie Skodinski (South Bend, Ind.-Washington) increased her hit streak to eight games with a single to shortstop and advanced to second on a past ball.
The Huskies were then charged with their first error of the game after NIU's Nicole Gremillion mishandled Gerber's single to left field, giving Skodinski the opportunity to come around and score the Eagles second run of the ball game.
Entering the sixth inning, the Huskies held a 5-2 lead over EMU until Courtney Nicholson (Navarre, Ohio-Canton Catholic Central) drove a two-run shot over the right field fence to bring the Eagles within one.
More miscues in the sixth allowed the Huskies to take an 8-4 lead.
EMU showed fight in the seventh, starting with a two out, solo shot from Skodinski to cut the deficit to three. The home run was the senior's fourth in four games, as she has hit a long ball in six of the Eagles last eight contests.
Following Skodinski's homer to left, Gerber and Russ posted singles of their own, placing EMU runners at first and second. Kaylee Tolliver (Amanda, Ohio-Clearcreek) came off the bench and executed a pinch hit, RBI single up the middle to bring the game within two, but NIU ended the threat and secured the win.
The Eagles pulled it together defensively in the night cap with a perfect, error free performance in the field. Offensively, they hammered out 11 hits, with three players posting multiple-hit performances.
Russ led EMU with a 2-for-2 effort at the dish, scoring three times and knocking in two after hitting her fifth home in four game. In her past 15 at bats, the junior has registered 14 hits to string together four consecutive multiple-hit contests.
The Eagles were first to strike in game two. In the top of the second, Russ doubled down the left field line and advanced to third on a single by Tolliver.
With runners at the corners, Coquillard singled to center field to plate Russ and put the Eagles up, 1-0.
A single from Richards loaded the bases for Lauren Delapaz (Plymouth, Mich.-Canton). The senior drilled a two-RBI single up the middle before getting picked off trying to advance to second on the play.
NIU's Adriana Sanchez homered in the bottom of the first, but Lauren Wells (Lowell, Ind.-Lowell) regained control of the inning by striking out two and forced a line out to get out of the inning.
Russ hit her fifth home run of the week in the third inning, increasing the Eagles lead to three.
After two scoreless innings, Eastern Michigan put six runs on the board in the top of the sixth. Russ started the rally as she drew a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. She was eventually waved around to score from second on a Nicholson double to right field.
Tolliver singled for her second hit of the game to put runners on the corners for EMU.
A one-out double by Coquillard knocked in two more for the Eagles, swelling the Green and White's lead to five.
With runners in scoring position, EMU swapped speed for power, as Allison Scherer (Stow, Ohio-Stow-Munroe) was asked to step to the plate in place of Katy Blaharski (Carleton, Mich.-Airport) with one out. The junior cashed in both runs on a triple to right center field to bring the score to 8-1.
The Eagles added two more runs before taking the game in six innings with a 10-1 final.
With the win, Wells improves to 4-1 on the season. The freshman fanned10 NIU batters and held the Huskies to just one run on four hits. Her 10 strike outs ties her career-high, which she recently recorded on March 26 in the Eagles 3-1 win over Austin Peay State University.
EMU will now head to Kalamazoo, Mich. for single games scheduled for Saturday and Sunday with Western Michigan University. Saturday's contest with the Broncos is slated for a 2 p.m. start.
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