The Huskies defeated the Bulls 11-3 in six innings in game one before falling 4-1in the second game. With today’s games, the Huskies move to 13-28 overall and 6-13 in Mid-American Conference play.
With 13 hits in the first game, the Huskies tied their season-best for hits in a single game.
“Right now, we are focusing on one pitch, one inning at a time,” said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. “Our first game today, we were able to put together a nice offensive game that was balanced with our pitching and defensive efforts.”
Game One Recap (NIU 11, Buffalo 3; 6 Innings)
The bats were hot in the first inning for the Huskies as the Huskies scored three runs off three hits. Madison Mathews (Yuma, Ariz./Cibola) doubled to right field to bring home Fiona Crane (Evergreen Park, Ill./Mother McAuley) for the first run of the day. Caitlyn Shumaker (Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine) hit her fifth home run of the season, a two-run home run to give the Huskies a 3-0 lead.
In the pitching circle for the Huskies, Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) issued one walk and retired six consecutive batters from Buffalo.
The Bulls added two runs on two hits in the top of the third inning to get on the scoreboard.
Mathews hit her second double of the game in the bottom of the third to reach base and send Stewart to third base. Shumaker reached base on a walk before Avery Carnahan (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston) hit a 3 RBI single to double the Huskies lead. Carnahan scored the final run of the third inning on Alana Powell’s (Chicago, Ill./Kenwood Academy) RBI single to left field.
The Bulls added their final run of the game in the top of the fourth inning.
After a pair of early outs in the fourth frame, the Huskies loaded two on the bases with a walk (Stewart) and single (Shumaker). Carahan drove in her fourth RBI of the day, a single as Stewart crossed home plate for the Huskies. Shumaker scored the final run of the inning as Carnahan was caught stealing.
Katy Ramage (Germantown Hills, Ill./Metamora Township) scored the lone run of the fifth frame for the Huskies as Claire Norred (Tipton, Ind./Tipton) retired six consecutive batters from Buffalo. Shumaker singled to right field as Brianna Pechman (West Chicago, Ill./West Chicago Community) scored the final run of the game.
Game Two Recap (NIU 1, Buffalo 4)
The Bulls scored their first run of the game on an RBI double in the top of the third frame before doubling their lead that same inning.
After holding the Huskies to just their second hit of the game, a single by Ellis Erickson (Lutz, Fla./Freedom), the Bulls added one run in the fourth and fifth innings to take a 4-0 lead over the Huskies.
Shumaker reached first base on a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the sixth before scoring on Ramage’s RBI single up the middle for the lone run of the game for the Huskies.
Huskie Notes
- Mathews had back-to-back doubles in her first two at bats in the first game as she went 2-of-3 at the plate.
- Stewart and Shumaker went 3-for-3 at the plate in the first game, with a combined five runs scored.
- In the second game, Erickson went 3-for-3 at the plate.
- As a team, the Huskies had four stolen bases on the day with just one coming in the second game.