The Mac Daily

Major coverage for a major conference.

Softball: Huskies Head To Akron, Sweep Zips

April 09, 2010
Big runs in late innings helped NIU edge its MAC East foe.
Mac Daily Staff Reports

AKRON — Northern Illinois kept itself above .500 in Mid-American Conference play with a Friday sweep of Akron.

The Huskies travelled to Northern Ohio for a doublehearder with the Zips and left with a pair of wins, 7-3 in the first game and 7-6 in the night cap.

In game one, the Huskies (14-21, 4-2 MAC) carried a 3-2 lead into the sixth inning. That's when NIU's offense came alive, tagging Akron reliever Alex Reideman for two runs in the sixth and another pair in the seventh to put the Zips away.

The Zips (12-18, 1-3) were poised to earn a series split heading into the final inning of game two. That's when things came undone. Leading 5-3 going into the seventh inning, things slipped away for UA as the Huskies rallied for a four-run inning, chasing Zips starter Heather Bauer from the game. Reideman got Akron out of the inning, but the damage was done as NIU was able to hang on for a 7-6 victory.

Akron has now dropped six of its past seven games.

Other MAC Scores

Ball State 12-8 Central Michigan
Central Michigan 11-3 Ball State

Miami 3-1 Eastern Michigan
Miami 10-1 Eastern Michigan

Ohio 5-2 Western Michigan
Ohio 4-0 Western Michigan


Saturday's MAC Games

Western Michigan at Akron, 2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan at Ball State, 2 p.m.
Toledo at Bowling Green, 2 p.m.
Buffalo at Kent State, 2 p.m.
Northern Illinois at Ohio, 2 p.m.
Central Michigan at Miami, 2 p.m.


(All times Eastern)