Nicole Gremillion
The Northern Illinois University softball team dropped a 4-2 decision to Western Michigan in the season finale Sunday at Fran Ebert Field.
After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, the Huskies (19-34, 7-15) responded with a pair in the top of the second.
A leadoff single by Nicole Gremillion (Missouri City, Texas/Elkins) and a walk by Jessica Sturm (Wichita, Kan./Goddard) put runners on first and second with no outs. Shelby Miller (Ottawa, Kan./Ottawa) advanced the runners to second and third with a groundout to second base.
Northern Illinois scored its first run of the game when Gremillion scored when Amanda Sheppard (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) fouled out to right field. Strum, who advanced to third on the play, scored a batter latter when Bryanna Phelan (Coal City, Ill./Coal City) singled.
However, the Huskies couldn’t hold the lead. Western Michigan (25-23, 11-9) scored a run in the third, fourth and fifth innings to take a 4-2 advantage.
The Broncos outhit the Huskie offense, 8-3, with Jennifer Barnett (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli), Gremillion and Phelan each tallying a hit. The NIU defense committed five errors on the day.
“Western Michigan did a great job today,” said NIU head coach Lindsay Chouinard. “When you only get three hits on the day, it’s hard to win a ball game.”
For more information on NIU softball and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.
