“It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.”

The Northwestern softball team thought just that when it came back from a 4-0 deficit in the top of the seventh inning to score four runs and send the game into extra innings yesterday at the NIU Softball Field.

NIU and Northwestern would end the game in a 5-5 tie. The game was called after the ninth inning due to rain.

The Huskies (22-19-2) endured their second tie of the season when they failed to protect a four-run lead and put away the Wildcats in the seventh inning.

The Huskies had the four-run lead due to a three-run sixth inning. Leading 1-0, the Huskies added, what turned out to be, three important runs.

Mary Borem started the big inning with a double off the center field fence. Ree Zenner walked and Ann Colgan, who went in to run for Borem, scored on a Niki VanHooreweghe single.

Both Zenner and VanHooreweghe would score on Mandy Clothier’s bloop single to left field, making the score 4-0 heading into the seventh inning.

NIU pitcher Kim Compton, who hurled a no-hitter through five shutout innings, suddenly ran into trouble in the top of the seventh when the first three Wildcats reached base safely.

Northwestern then scored on a ground ball to short by Amy Van Appledorn which forced a runner out at second and left runners on first and third.

Another fielder’s choice scored a run to make the score 4-2 and left a runner on first with two out. Unfortunately for the Huskies, Northwestern’s Dena Petersen then doubled to left center field, putting runners on second and third.

NIU coach Dee Abrahamson then took Compton out in favor of Kristin Vandenhouten. Vandenhouten could not close the door and allowed a single to center that scored both Wildcat runners to tie the score 4-4.

NIU failed to score in its half of the seventh inning sending the game to extra innings. Northwestern took its first lead of the game in the top of the eighth inning at 5-4.

NIU responded in its half of the eighth with a run when VanHooreweghe singled to right scoring Jenny Warno from second base to tie the score at five apiece.