Despite comeback attempts by the Huskies offense late in both games, the Northern Illinois University Huskies softball team (7-17, 2-4 MAC) were swept in action this afternoon by the RedHawks of Miami University (16-15, 6-0 MAC). The Huskies fell 7-6 in the first game of the doubleheader before falling 3-2 in eight innings in the second game.

With multiple hits in both games today, Jenna Turner (Marengo, Ill./Marengo) is on a six-game multi-hit streak. Turner has been credited with hits in seven of the last eight games for the Huskies.

The Huskies recorded 13 hits in the first game, a season high for the team. In the second game, NIU tallied 9 hits to Miami’s 12 hits.

“They (the girls) kept fighting all weekend. Miami is a tough team, and they’ve got solid hitters with good pitchers,” said NIU head coach Kathryn Gleason. “All 24 players are all-in with our culture and play for each other as they compete with confidence for each ball. They brought in one of their best pitchers when they saw how well we were hitting. We’ll stick to our process and keep working on the little things as we prepare for Northwestern and then return home against Ohio.”

Game One Recap (Miami 7, NIU 6)

The RedHawks broke onto the scoreboard first with a two-run home run in the second inning.

The Huskies offense quickly responded, loading the bases via a walk and two hits in the third inning and no outs through the first three batters. Madison Mathews (Yuma, Ariz./Cibola) hit an RBI single to center field as Mia Morera (Simi Valley, Calif./Westlake) scored for the Huskies. Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) tied the game up at two with an RBI single through the left side as Turner scored the tying run.

Miami scored four runs off six hits in the third inning as they took a 6-2 lead over NIU. NIU responded in the top of the fourth after loading the bases with a Turner single. Nance recorded her second hit of the game, an RBI single, to send Morera across the plate for the third run. The RedHawks defense stopped the Huskies from scoring as they left three on base.

Alanah Velazquez (Pembroke Pines, Fla./Pembroke Pines Charter) hit a two RBI single up the middle to send Katy Ramage (Germantown Hills, Ill./Metamora Township) and Tess Meyer (La Grange, Ill./Lyons Township) across the plate with two outs in the top of the seventh. Kacie Quick (Bloomington, Ill./Normal West) hit an RBI single to the pitcher as Alana Powell (Chicago, Ill./Kenwood Academy) scored and brought the game within one. The RedHawks found the final out of the inning to hand NIU a 7-6 loss.

Game Two Recap (Miami 3, NIU 2, 8 Innings)

Turner marked her sixth straight game with a hit as she led the first inning off with a single through the left side. Mathews recorded the second hit of the day for the Huskies in the second as the NIU offense continued to battle against Miami.

The RedHawks scored off a Jenna Golembiewski home run in the first inning before doubling their lead in the second on an RBI single.

Heading into the fourth inning, Mathews singled to third base to put NIU on the bases. Avery Carnahan (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston) hit an RBI single through the left side to send Mathews across home plate and put NIU on the board.

Powell and Turner opened the seventh inning with back-to-back singles as a Stewart RBI single to center field would send Powell across the plate and tie the game with one out. The RedHawks defense allowed only one hit from Stewart before stopping the Huskies offense.

Additional innings were needed to determine a winner in the game as the RedHawks held the Huskies offense without a hit in the eighth inning. Miami’s H Merritt had the walk-off single to send Chloe Parks across the plate as Miami swept NIU in the series.

Huskies Highlights

The NIU softball team will take a midweek break from conference action as they travel to Northwestern on March 26. Action will begin at 4 p.m. in Evanston, Illinois.