A pair of juniors and a whole team geared to make a statement combined to take NIU to a third-place finish in the Coors Light National Invitational Championships Sunday in Macomb, Ill.

NIU juniors Julie Sexton and Jeanne Richeal each had career weekends while leading the Huskies’ 33-hit offensive attack. Sexton, who opened the tournament with a NIC record four-for-four performance at the plate, hit a home run and four doubles in the six tournament games. Richeal used her time at the plate to pound six hits, including three doubles, while racking-up seven put-outs and one assist on defense. Both third-year players were named to the 12-member All-NIC team.

NIU, 8-7 in fall exhibition action, became the master of the one-run victory over the three-day tournament. NIU began the 16-team National Invitational Championships with single-run Friday wins against Central Michigan University, 5-4, and host Western Illinois, 2-1. Oklahoma state University, a team which would come back to haunt the Huskies, beat NIU 4-1 Saturday morning and sent the Huskies to loser’s bracket play.

NIU battled its way to the tournament semi-finals with a 2-1 win over defending NIC champion Iowa State University Saturday night and a 3-2 come-from-behind victory against Illinois State University Sunday morning. Oklahoma State halted the Huskies’ championship bid with a 6-0, eight-hit win over NIU in the third-place game.

Winning pitchers for NIU over the weekend were Rachel Ortiz (2), Kristin Vandenhouten (1) and Maria Leake (1). Vandenhouten suffered the solo loss in the Oklahoma State game.

The Huskies close their fall exhibition season Oct. 14 and 15 at the University of Iowa Hawkeye Invitational.