NIU softball went on the hunt for their fourth consecutive win against Northwestern University on Tuesday evening. The Huskies got hot on offense early, spooking the Wildcats into committing 3 errors in the first two innings that led to 3 runs.
NU got themselves on the board to tie it up in the third inning, and took the lead in the seventh. Junior Alana Powell smacked a full-count triple, then junior Katy Ramage hit a mishandled grounder to send Powell home and she was contentiously called out on first.
After a heated discussion that got NIU softball head coach Kathryn Gleason ejected in the final moments of the game, the Huskies (21-13, 14-5 MAC) fell 5-4 to the Wildcats (24-29, 11-7 Big Ten).
“I just loved how we fought to the end,” Gleason said. “(Powell) came up and hit that crucial triple. (Sophomore Mia Morera) had a great at-bat and Katy had a great at-bat. I said ‘just get us a ground ball,’ and I thought (Ramage) beat it out and gave us a chance to tie the game.”
Graduate student pitcher Madison Carlson (9-1) pitched 2 three up three down innings as the starter against the Wildcats. She threw 4 strikeouts and allowed 4 hits and 3 runs in four innings.
Ramage went 1-for-2 at the plate and recorded 1 stolen base. She advanced to first twice via hit by pitch in the second and fourth innings. Ramage made an over-the-wall catch to end the fifth inning, robbing the Wildcats’ senior Kansas Robinson of a three-run bomb.
Sophomore Lia Nance extended the lead in the second inning with a double to center field to send Ramage and Powell home. She hit 3-for-3 and scored 1 run along with her 2 RBIs.
Powell’s triple was her solo hit on the day in three plate appearances, and she walked once in the second inning.
“I told them in the end, I said ‘if you fight like that, you’re going to win a lot more games,’” Gleason said. “We’re going to be there at the end. I love their energy, their fight and their no fear. They just came out and played the game. Could we have made a few more plays? Yes, but I think Maddy did a great job on the mound. I thought (junior Hannah Bolly) did a great job coming in. That’s the No. 5-6 team in the Big Ten, and (Northwestern junior Emma Raye) I don’t even think had a hit, and she’s one of the best catchers in the country. I was just really proud of their fight.”
UP NEXT
The Huskies will now battle the Western Michigan University Broncos at 2 p.m. Friday in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
