Northwestern Runs Away From Northern Illinois, 8-2

4/6/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball

April 6, 2011

Box Score

Site: Evanston, Ill. (Sharon J. Drysdale Field)
Score: Northwestern 8, Northern Illinois 2
Records: NU (18-9), Northern Illinois (13-16)
Next NU Event: April 9, 2011 -- at Wisconsin (Madison, Wis.), Noon CT

EVANSTON, Ill. -- After falling behind early to Northern Illinois Wednesday at Sharon J. Drysdale Field, Northwestern exploded for seven runs in the middle innings to run away with an 8-2 victory over the Huskies.

Northwestern improves to 18-9 overall on the season with its victory while Northern Illinois now is 13-16 overall with its loss.

Northern Illinois took the game's first lead with a two-out double in the top of the first against Northwestern starter Meghan Lamberth (Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette). The Wildcats answered back immediately in the bottom half of the opening frame, starting in its usual fashion with an Emily Allard (Antioch, Calif./Deer Valley) base hit. Allard moved to second on an errant throw on her hit before stealing third and scoring on a Robin Thompson (Detroit, Mich./Martin Luther King) sacrifice fly to even the score after the first inning.

After both teams went down in order in the second, Northern Illinois added another tally in the top of the third on back-to-back leadoff doubles, re-taking the lead, 2-1.

Just like in the first, Northwestern responded to NIU's score immediately in the same frame. Allard reached first on a one-out infield single, and again went to second when the throw to first went awry for an error. Thompson attempted to sacrifice Allard to third, but ended up safe with a single after a wonderful bunt. Thompson stole second, then both Wildcats came home to score when Adrienne Monka (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Rancho Cucamonga) singled into center to give Northwestern a 3-2 lead.

Lauren Ackerman (St. Louis, Mo./Home schooled) moved from the flex spot in the lineup to run for Monka, then -- after an Ackerman steal and a series of strange events in which Michelle Batts (Bloomingdale, Ill./Glenbard North) was given a second chance at the plate following a lineup card mistake by Northern Illinois -- Batts singled to move Ackerman to third. Amanda Mehrsheikh (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway Central) ran for Batts at first, then Marisa Bast (Orange, Calif./Villa Park) drove in Ackerman with a groundout. Mehrsheikh moved to second on that play before coming home when Kelly Quinn (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North) singled, giving the Wildcats a 5-2 lead.

Northwestern continued the scoring in the fourth, beginning with a Lamberth single into center. Lauren Tyndall (Edmond, Okla./Edmond Memorial) pinch ran for Lamberth. Tyndall moved to second on a great infield single from Jordan Wheeler (Garden Grove, Calif./Los Alamitos) before Kristin Scharkey (Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza) moved both runners up a bag on a sacrifice bunt.

Allard drove in both runners with a single back through the middle, taking second on the throw to the plate. After she stole third for the second time in the game, Thompson drove her in with a nice little infield sacrifice to make it an 8-2 ball game going to the fifth.

That was all the scoring the game had in store this Wednesday, with both pitchers keeping the opposing offenses quiet from there on in.

Lamberth (8-0) remained perfect on the year by going the distance and allowing two runs on seven hits and a walk with five strikeouts.

Allard was 3-for-4 at the plate with three runs, two RBIs and two stolen bases to lead the Wildcats' offense. She now is on an 18-game hitting streak and has nine games with three or more hits this season. Batts collected two hits and Thompson and Monka joined Allard in driving in a pair.

Northwestern returns to action at noon CT Saturday, April 9, at Wisconsin.

••••••

Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook! and subscribe to the NU Sports Express e-newsletter to receive the latest news, schedule updates and video and to interact with NU. For more information on following specific Northwestern teams online, visit our Social Media page!