Second Game Cancelled Due To Rain

CHICAGO, Ill. The Northern Illinois softball team rallied back from an early 4-1 deficit by plating two runs in the top of the seventh, but the rally ended one run shy of pulling even with the Loyola University Chicago Ramblers (11-15, 5-3) as the Huskies (5-18, 0-4) lost, 4-3, at Loyola Softball Park on Tuesday evening. The teams were scheduled to play another game, but after a half inning of play, rain forced the game to be cancelled.

The Huskies took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning after a bunt-single from junior Jenna Roberts (Verona, Wis./West) scored senior Krista McPherson (Beecher, Ill./Beecher) from third. However, the Ramblers pushed across three runs in the bottom of the first by knocking three hits and taking advantage of a Huskie error to take a 3-1 lead.

A solo homer by Loyola’s Haley Ambrosch in the fourth frame increased the Rambler lead, 4-1, before NIU put together their seventh inning rally.

The top of the seventh began with a walk from junior Ashley Clement (Moline, Ill./Moline). Freshman Andrea Colosimo (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) reached on a fielders choice and then Junior Emily Gooding (Lismore, Australia/Lake Land C.C.) singled to load the bases with no outs. After a McPherson fly out to left field, junior Katie Colby (Waukesha, Wis./West) reached on a fielders choice to left field that scored two runs after a Rambler throwing error.

With NIU down by one run, 4-3, the Huskies could not extend the inning as Loyola's Amy Solava (8-8) retired the next two batters to earn the win by giving up one earned run on five hits with four strike outs and three walks in seven innings.

"Clearly, we are right there on the brink of winning," said NIU head coach Lindsay Chouinard. "We are just missing those timely hits and that's the difference between our wins and loses right now."

NIU Sophomore Kate Greenough (Portland, Ore./David Douglas) dropped to 3-10 on the year after going six innings on the mound, giving up four earned runs on five hits with six strike outs and three walks.

McPherson collected three hits and one stolen base to lead the way for NIU on offense. Gooding also added a hit and Roberts notched a hit along with a run batted in.

The Huskies take the field tomorrow in the first two games of a seven game home stand with a doubleheader at Mary M. Bell Field against Western Illinois (3-20, 2-3) at 3 p.m. CT. The game can be followed live on niuhuskies.com through CSTV's GameTracker.

-NIU-

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