Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, April 23
Varsity Field
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
18-25, 8-8
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Northern Illinois
30-13, 11-5
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Northern Illinois
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5
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Eastern Michigan
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9
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Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Softball Drops Senior Day Doubleheader to NIU
4/23/2016 6:46:00 PM | Softball
The Eagles close out the season with a seven-game road trip
Photo Gallery
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Missed opportunities and defensive miscues plagued the Eastern Michigan University softball team Saturday, April 23, at Varsity Field as the Eagles dropped a doubleheader to Northern Illinois University. The Eagles (18-25, 8-9 MAC) stranded a total of 14 on the day while committing three errors as the Huskies (31-13, 12-5 MAC) took game one 1-0, and game two, 6-1, on senior day.
Game #1: Northern Illinois 1, Eastern Michigan 0
For the fourth consecutive game, the Eagles outhit their opponents. EMU cranked out nine hits while the Green and White pitchers held the Huskies to five. Senior Abi Clark (Clinton, Mich.-Clinton), freshman Amanda Akles (La Habra, Calif.-La Habra), and senior Aoife Duffy (Powell, Ohio-Olentangy Liberty) all picked up multi-hit efforts, going 2-for-3 at the plate. Duffy also threw out two base runners from behind the plate in the loss.
In the circle, freshman Nicolle Miranda (Wilmington, Calif.-Port of Los Angeles) held the conference's second-best offense to five hits, while also pitching herself out of a few jams. Totaling eight strikeouts on the day, Miranda fanned her highest total in conference play, and most since registering 12 punch outs against UMass-Lowell, Feb. 19. The Wilmington, Calif. native did not surrender an earned run over 6.2 innings, but was ultimately credited with the loss.
EMU had its fair share of opportunities during the game, loading the bases in the fifth and sixth innings. With the bases juiced and nobody out, the Eagles failed to capitalize on the opportunity, coming away without a run in both instances.
Deadlocked at zero heading to the final frame, NIU put the leadoff batter aboard. After a dropped fly ball in foul territory, the next batter was plunked before a walk loaded the bases for the Huskies. Miranda came back to strike out the next batter she faced for the second out of the inning. With the Huskies down to their final out, a nine-pitch at bat ended with a free pass, walking the leading run in from third.
Trailing by one, the Eagles could not muster any offense in the bottom half of the inning. Going down in order, the Green and White dropped the game, 1-0.
Game #2: Northern Illinois 6, Eastern Michigan 1
Junior Michelle Kriegshauser (New Lenox, Ill.-Lincoln Way Central) was the lone Eagle to record multiple hits, going 2-for-2 with a walk and an RBI. Meanwhile, freshman Sam Saporito (Eastvale, Calif.-Eleanor Roosevelt), Akles, and sophomore Brandice Olmos (Riverside, Calif.-Grand Terrace) picked up one hit each.
Pitching proved to be a bright spot for the Eagles despite the loss. Of NIU's six runs, just three were earned. Junior Abbie Minsker (Howell, Mich.-Hartland) started the game, but left in the early goings, allowing two runs on three hits and walking one. After making a relief appearance in the first leg of the doubleheader, sophomore Trisha Trujillo (Whittier, Calif.-California) returned to the circle in the first inning of the series finale. Trujillo went a season-high 6.1 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits. Surrendering just one earned run in the outing, Trujillo struck out a career-high six batters.
Northern Illinois plated five runs over the first three innings to take a 5-0 lead into the fourth. EMU then scored its first run of the day in the bottom of the fourth on a solo shot off the bat of Kriegshauser. The round tripper marked the sixth of the season for Kriegshauser, and the 19th of her career.
The Huskies got one back in the fifth, pushing their lead to 6-1 through five full innings.
From that point on, neither team mustered much offense, as the Eagles fell, 6-1, in their final home game of the season.
At the conclusion of the doubleheader, the Eagles recognized the careers of six seniors; Myranda Barnes, Abby Davidson, Mady Hostetler, Elaine Whitbeck, Abi Clark, and Aoife Duffy. Together, the group has helped the Green and White to 67 wins and 25 Mid-American Conference victories.
The Eagles return to the diamond Wednesday, April 27, in East Lansing when they take on in-state rival Michigan State. The non-conference contest marks the start of a seven-game road trip to close out the season for the Eastern Michigan. First pitch of the single game versus the Spartans is set for 4 p.m.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Missed opportunities and defensive miscues plagued the Eastern Michigan University softball team Saturday, April 23, at Varsity Field as the Eagles dropped a doubleheader to Northern Illinois University. The Eagles (18-25, 8-9 MAC) stranded a total of 14 on the day while committing three errors as the Huskies (31-13, 12-5 MAC) took game one 1-0, and game two, 6-1, on senior day.
Game #1: Northern Illinois 1, Eastern Michigan 0
For the fourth consecutive game, the Eagles outhit their opponents. EMU cranked out nine hits while the Green and White pitchers held the Huskies to five. Senior Abi Clark (Clinton, Mich.-Clinton), freshman Amanda Akles (La Habra, Calif.-La Habra), and senior Aoife Duffy (Powell, Ohio-Olentangy Liberty) all picked up multi-hit efforts, going 2-for-3 at the plate. Duffy also threw out two base runners from behind the plate in the loss.
In the circle, freshman Nicolle Miranda (Wilmington, Calif.-Port of Los Angeles) held the conference's second-best offense to five hits, while also pitching herself out of a few jams. Totaling eight strikeouts on the day, Miranda fanned her highest total in conference play, and most since registering 12 punch outs against UMass-Lowell, Feb. 19. The Wilmington, Calif. native did not surrender an earned run over 6.2 innings, but was ultimately credited with the loss.
EMU had its fair share of opportunities during the game, loading the bases in the fifth and sixth innings. With the bases juiced and nobody out, the Eagles failed to capitalize on the opportunity, coming away without a run in both instances.
Deadlocked at zero heading to the final frame, NIU put the leadoff batter aboard. After a dropped fly ball in foul territory, the next batter was plunked before a walk loaded the bases for the Huskies. Miranda came back to strike out the next batter she faced for the second out of the inning. With the Huskies down to their final out, a nine-pitch at bat ended with a free pass, walking the leading run in from third.
Trailing by one, the Eagles could not muster any offense in the bottom half of the inning. Going down in order, the Green and White dropped the game, 1-0.
Game #2: Northern Illinois 6, Eastern Michigan 1
Junior Michelle Kriegshauser (New Lenox, Ill.-Lincoln Way Central) was the lone Eagle to record multiple hits, going 2-for-2 with a walk and an RBI. Meanwhile, freshman Sam Saporito (Eastvale, Calif.-Eleanor Roosevelt), Akles, and sophomore Brandice Olmos (Riverside, Calif.-Grand Terrace) picked up one hit each.
Pitching proved to be a bright spot for the Eagles despite the loss. Of NIU's six runs, just three were earned. Junior Abbie Minsker (Howell, Mich.-Hartland) started the game, but left in the early goings, allowing two runs on three hits and walking one. After making a relief appearance in the first leg of the doubleheader, sophomore Trisha Trujillo (Whittier, Calif.-California) returned to the circle in the first inning of the series finale. Trujillo went a season-high 6.1 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits. Surrendering just one earned run in the outing, Trujillo struck out a career-high six batters.
Northern Illinois plated five runs over the first three innings to take a 5-0 lead into the fourth. EMU then scored its first run of the day in the bottom of the fourth on a solo shot off the bat of Kriegshauser. The round tripper marked the sixth of the season for Kriegshauser, and the 19th of her career.
The Huskies got one back in the fifth, pushing their lead to 6-1 through five full innings.
From that point on, neither team mustered much offense, as the Eagles fell, 6-1, in their final home game of the season.
At the conclusion of the doubleheader, the Eagles recognized the careers of six seniors; Myranda Barnes, Abby Davidson, Mady Hostetler, Elaine Whitbeck, Abi Clark, and Aoife Duffy. Together, the group has helped the Green and White to 67 wins and 25 Mid-American Conference victories.
The Eagles return to the diamond Wednesday, April 27, in East Lansing when they take on in-state rival Michigan State. The non-conference contest marks the start of a seven-game road trip to close out the season for the Eastern Michigan. First pitch of the single game versus the Spartans is set for 4 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: THACKER, Tara (8-6)
L: Miranda, Nicolle (8-15)
Batting:
RBI: HARNISH, Bekah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: RIO, Jessica 1
SB: KOSSAKOWSKI, Kali 1
CS: RIO, Jessica 1
HBP: KOSSAKOWSKI, Kali 1 ; NAEGELE, Emily 1 ; HOWLETT, Abby 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
3B/1B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball3B/OF
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
2B/SS
/ Softball
OF/C
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballThank You, Team 38
Monday, May 07
Overcoming Adversity: A Lauren Holdsworth Feature
Saturday, February 24
Closing Out a Legacy: Michelle Kriegshauser
Thursday, May 18
EMU Softball Signs Alyssa Feiler
Saturday, March 25