Huskies sweep doubleheader

By SEAMUS BRENNAN

After dropping a doubleheader to Toledo on Friday, the NIU softball team rebounded with a doubleheader sweep of their own against Bowling Green on Saturday.

It took a dramatic walk-off win to ease any lingering pain from Friday’s performance in which the Huskies “did not perform in any aspect of the game” according to head coach Lindsay Chouinard. A walk-off squeeze play by Emily Gooding scored Kayla Kramer to cap a three-run seventh inning and give the Huskies a 7-6 victory.

The comeback by the Huskies gave Morgan Bittner the win, despite her giving up six runs in seven innings. She fanned a season-high 12 Bowling Green hitters.

Bittner’s work wouldn’t be over.

The Huskies followed up the game one victory with a 9-6 win, but not after seeing a comfortable eight-run lead turn into a tight three-run advantage. Joreigh Landers was replaced by Bittner who pitched the final one and a third to pick up her first save of the season.

But it was the offensive surge that had Chouinard talking.

“The bats were much better today,” Chouinard said. “We got some big hits in key situations with runners in scoring position. If we can continue to do that, we will be in good shape.”

The Huskies take a break from conference play to travel to Illinois-Chicago, the first of two non-conference games this week in the Windy City. The Huskies play at DePaul on Thursday, where Chouinard starred during her collegiate playing days as a pitcher.