Softball got off to an impressive start to their week with a midweek extra-inning victory over the Illinois State Redbirds.

The Huskies (13-13) beat the Redbirds (13-18), 6-3, in eight innings Wednesday in Normal.

How it happened

It was a back-and-forth game with the teams belting home runs left and right. ISU’s Payton Billups got the action started early for ISU, hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning. NIU sophomore infielder Kali Kossakowski responded with a two-run homer of her own in the top of the third inning.

“Anytime you can put the first run on the board it shows you can score and get on the pitcher,” said head coach Christina Sutcliffe.

The back-and-forth game continued with a two-run home run by Regan Romshek in the bottom of the third, which was the end of the evening scoring-wise for Illinois State.

Freshman catcher/infielder Alaynie Woollard hit the first of her two home runs in the fourth inning, tying the game at 3-3 with a solo home run. Neither team was able to further score in regulation, sending the game to extra innings. In the top of the eighth, Woollard went on to strike a three-run shot to give the Huskies a 6-3 lead and the win.

“She has that power potential,” Sutcliffe said. “She kind of figured out how pitchers are pitching her right now. I think this is the best game we’ve played all season.”

In the circle

Although NIU senior pitcher Jess Sturm began the game, she pitched only 2.2 innings, giving up three runs before freshman Keegan Hayes took over. Hayes went on to pitch 5.1 innings, giving up no runs and tallying her seventh win of the year. ISU’s Romshek pitched seven innings and gave up five earned runs. ISU freshman Sarah Finck took the loss, pitching in the eighth inning.

At plate

NIU belted three home runs in the extra-inning victory. Two of those home runs came from Woollard, including the game-winner in extra innings. She went 2-4 with four RBIs and drove in two runs.

Up next

Due to freezing temperatures, NIU’s four games this weekend have been shortened to three, The Huskies’ doubleheader against the Ohio Bobcats has been lessened to a single game starting at 1 p.m. Friday at Mary M. Bell Field . They then host the Akron Zips 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday in DeKalb dependent upon weather.

Sutcliffe expressed her happiness for the four-game weekend, which starts a 10-game homestand.

“We just want to start off on a good streak,” Sutcliffe said. “We’re just looking to stay ahead of the pack at this point.”