DeKALB | NIU softball head coach Donna Martin called Randi Kreiter’s lead-off double in the bottom of the fourth a “frustration double.”

Kreiter agreed.

“I haven’t really been hitting well,” Kreiter said. “It definitely was a frustration double.”

Playing catcher in the first game against Valaparaiso and first base in the second game, Kreiter had five pop fly outs before hitting the double to deep center field. One of the fly outs was a sacrifice fly that scored Jenna Roberts.

Not only did the hit let out some of Kreiter’s stress, it also came to be an offensive spark.

“When the lead-off hitter gets on, it’s a lot easier to get more on,” Kreiter said. “It’s a lot less pressure.”

NIU went into the inning trailing 0-1. But after Kreiter got on it opened the door for NIU. Some clutch hitting and base running by Kelly Park, combined with a few key Valparaiso misques helped NIU to a three run inning.

“[Valparaiso] had some trouble fielding in the first game,” Martin said. “We put in as many people that put ball on the ground to try and force them to make mistakes.”