NIU softball (2-3) pillaged the Colgate University Raiders (0-4) on the road Saturday morning, shutting down the Raiders’ offense en route to a 5-2 victory.
DEFENSE SHINES
The Huskies’ fielding and pitching success were a huge factor in picking up the win. It didn’t start that way, however, as NIU gave up 2 runs in the first inning to go down 2-0.
“My message to the team after the first inning was: There’s a lot of game left,” NIU softball head coach Kathryn Gleason said. “We didn’t even have a chance to hit yet. We had been the visitors for four games and then we were the home now. We needed to come out and just be ourselves and be patient at the plate.”
The Huskies didn’t let up a run after the first inning, muting Colgate while ending the game on a 5-0 stretch of dominance.
“The pitchers knew before the game that it was all hands on deck, that everybody was going to get an opportunity to get out there,” Gleason said. “I think that’s going to be our mojo all year. It’s a pitching staff and we all put some innings in and get some batters out. We have different strengths and that’s how we approach the day.”
NIU played three different pitchers against the Raiders. The Huskies’ pitchers struck five batters out, including a crucial strikeout by NIU freshman pitcher/second baseman Taylor Mackin at the end of the seventh inning to secure the win.
UP AND DOWN AT THE PLATE
The Huskies batted inconsistently against Colgate.
“With the hitters, you know it’s up and down. You know you’re going to hit the ball right at them at some point too,” Gleason said. “I think a lot of people stepped up. Rylie (Hartman) really stepped up today and Kayla (Estrada) throughout the weekend, just an incredible job of coming in.”
Junior center/outside fielder Rylie Hartman led NIU in hits going 2-3 at the plate on the day and notching 1 run and 1 RBI.
Sophomore center/first baseman Kayla Estrada went 0-1 as a pinch hitter against Colgate but went 3-8 at bat over the weekend including a 2 hit, 2 RBI game against Grand Canyon University on Thursday.
Sophomore catcher/utility player Tess Meyer stepped in as a pinch hitter in the fourth inning and slammed a double into left center. Meyer’s double earned 3 RBIs and granted NIU its first lead of the day, a lead they never relinquished.
“We called timeout right before Tess (Meyer) went to hit and I just told her to relax,” Gleason said. “And she attacked that first pitch and cleared the bases.”
UP NEXT
NIU continues their season by competing in the Ragin’ Cajuns tournament hosted by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in Lafayette, Louisiana. The first game is at 11:30 a.m. Friday against the University of Central Arkansas.
“We’re really excited to get to Lafayette in that great softball environment and good teams in Central Arkansas, Sam Houston, Ole Miss.” Gleason said, “We’ll prepare this week and get ready to go again on Thursday.”
