There must have been something in the flowers.

Before Sunday’s softball matchup with Eastern Michigan, NIU honored five seniors with an on-field tribute, flowers and a framed picture of the player.

Then the Huskies went on a hitting binge and scored eight runs on 11 hits.
But it wouldn’t be enough, as the Huskies blew an 8-7 lead in the top of the seventh and lost 9-8.
EMU scored four runs in the first inning off NIU starter Morgan Bittner, but the Huskies came back with four of their own in the bottom of the first. Katie Colby and Michelle Williams each had 2-run singles.

“It was a good day for the offense,” said NIU head coach Lindsay Chouinard.

The Huskies went into the top of seventh up 8-7, but Joreigh Landers was unable to hold the lead and EMU scored two in the frame to take a 9-8 lead, the final score.

“We figured it was going to be a slugfest today,” said EMU head coach Karen Baird.

Landers pitched well in relief of Bittner, who struggled through two and a third innings, giving up six runs during that time. Landers only gave up one until the seventh, where she walked the leadoff hitter, gave up one hit and struck another batter.

But the seniors were the main focus even after the tough loss. Chouinard praised Colby, Jenna Roberts, Emily Gooding, Bailey Ouellette and Dani Thompson.

“They really changed the culture of the program,” she said.
Roberts played well on her last day at Mary M. Bell Field, going 2-3 on the day and was emotional after the game.

“[I’ll miss] the friends, the hardwork and the team camaraderie,” Roberts said. “Putting yourself into something bigger than yourself, you can’t replace that.

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