NIU softball went back on the road to Bowling Green State University on Friday afternoon to compete in its seventh doubleheader of the season.
Flexing their offensive awareness, the Huskies scored 6 runs in the third inning of Game 1 on three errors from the Falcons. BGSU couldn’t get involved offensively, only recording 2 hits. NIU defeated BGSU 9-0 in five innings.
The Huskies’ momentum carried over to Game 2, scoring 2 runs during the third inning. The Falcons scored their first run of the day in the eighth inning to put themselves in the running, but it wasn’t enough to beat NIU. Winning their third consecutive game, the Huskies (21-12, 14-5 MAC) won 3-1 to take the series over the Falcons (17-24, 5-15 MAC).
“We only had 7 hits in that first game, but were efficient in how we did it,” said NIU softball head coach Kathryn Gleason. “We took a couple of innings to get going, but then I really think we got to them and just kept putting the ball in play.”
Graduate student pitcher Madison Carlson (9-0) remained undefeated in the circle, pitching through Game 1. Carlson threw 4 strikeouts and 1 walk, and only allowed 2 hits in 20 batters faced.
“Maddy came out and set the tone,” Gleason said about Carlson via NIU Athletics. “She’s been doing that for us all season. She shut them down in the beginning, and she knows she just keeps doing that until the offense gets going.”
Senior Danielle “Dee Dee” Stewart hit a combined 4-for-8 on the day. She crushed her seventh home run of the season to center field in the fourth inning of Game 1, and totaled 4 RBIs on the day. Stewart got the start in the circle in Game 2, pitching through two innings. She threw 3 strikeouts and walked 2 batters.
“Obviously Dee Dee had a great game,” Gleason said about Stewart via NIU Athletics. “I thought the first (hit of Game 1) was going out. It hit the wall deep in center field, she got the double, and then the second time it went over. She had two great games at the plate and on the mound.”
Junior Katy Ramage went 1-for-2 at the plate in Game 1. She logged 2 RBIs in the third inning after driving in junior Alana Powell and sophomore Mia Morera on a single to center field. Ramage hit 1-for-3 in Game 2, sending Powell home with another single hit.
Sophomore Lia Nance hit 2-for-4 on the day. She walked twice and scored 2 runs in Game 1, and scored her third run on the day in Game 2 on Stewart’s double in the third inning.
UP NEXT
The Huskies look to sweep the Falcons at 3 p.m. Saturday in Bowling Green, Ohio. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats will be provided by SIDEARM Sports.
