Published on Monday, April 28, 2008

Nendza homers into the record books in loss to Akron

By ANDREA BRADLEY

Breaking records is a great personal achievement.

But for NIU shortstop Michelle Nendza, breaking the single-season home run record was bittersweet.

Belting her 10th home run this season, the senior slid into the record books. However, her team found itself on the wrong side, as it lost 7-6 to Akron in Saturday’s game.

“I didn’t even know that I broke the record until after the game,” Nendza said. “I had no idea that 10 was the number to get. It’s cool to break it, but I was just doing what I can for the team.”

The senior jumped into the books when she gave NIU a 2-0 lead in the first inning. However, by the time the seventh inning rolled around, the Huskies found themselves at a 6-2 deficit.

Behind in the scorecard, NIU mustered four runs in the final frame to tie the game 6-6. However, the Huskies couldn’t keep the momentum rolling, as the Zips produced a run – and the win – in the ninth inning.

“We need to play better,” Nendza said. “Breaking the record would have been better if we could have won, but I did what I could to help the team out. It is what it is.”

NIU continued competition with Akron on Sunday, losing 8-0. The Huskies couldn’t grab the conference win, as the team only tallied three hits in the loss.

Before taking on Akron over the weekend, the Huskies traveled to Athens, Ohio, to take on the Bobcats on Friday. NIU split a doubleheader with Ohio, winning the first game 5-4 and losing the second 6-0.

NIU third baseman Krista McPherson helped the Huskies grab the win in the first game, garnering three hits and a RBI. The senior used her speed to make it around the bases twice to secure the team’s victory.