Unable to overcome a hot Miami University (OH) RedHawks team, the Northern Illinois University Huskie softball team fell in a pair of games today (May 4) at Mary M. Bell Field on NIU’s campus.

The Huskies were shutout in the first game as Miami won 7-0. The Huskies were able to put 2 runs up in the second game but fell 11-2 in six innings. With the losses, the Huskies fall to 18-33 on the season and 9-18 in conference play.

“We had our chances today, unfortunately we weren’t able to come through in pivotal moments in the game,” said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. “Tomorrow, we need to string some hits together and get off the field when we get the chance.”

Game One Recap (NIU 0, Miami 7)

Ellis Erickson (Lutz, Fla./Freedom) had the first hit of the game for either team, singling in the bottom of the first inning. Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) had the second single of the game as the Huskies would leave two runners stranded.

Stewart and Claire Norred (Tipton, Ind./Tipton) held Miami’s Karli Spaid to just one hit and a single RBI as Spaid is averaging a .403 batting average.

The RedHawks scored their first run in the fourth inning, an RBI single that sent Jenna Golembiewski across the plate. The RedHawks hit a two-run home run in the top of the inning extending their lead to 3-0. The RedHawks added one more run in the fifth inning before scoring three runs in the sixth.

Stewart was the only Huskie to record multiple hits in the first game, going 2-for-3 at the plate. Erickson and Madison Mathews (Yuma, Ariz./Cibola) were credited with single hits in the game.

Game Two Recap (NIU 2, Miami 11 | 6 innings)

Spaid hit her 100th career home run in the top of the third inning, extending the RedHawks lead to three.

The RedHawks scored seven unanswered runs before Alana Powell (Chicago, Ill./Kenwood Academy) scored as Jenna Turner (Marengo, Ill./Marengo) reached on a fielder’s choice. Stewart would reach on a fielder’s choice to send Katy Ramage (Germantown Hills, Ill./Metamora Township) across the plate for the Huskies second run of the game.

The RedHawks scored four runs in the top of the sixth inning to hand the Huskies their third consecutive loss.

Mathews recorded her seventh game this season with multiple hits, going 2-for-3 at the plate. Caitlyn Shumaker (Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine), Powell, and Ramage contributed three hits as the Huskies had five hits as a team.

The Huskies will conclude the 2024 season on May 5 as they host Miami. The first pitch is set for 12 p.m. at Mary M. Bell Field as the Huskies celebrate “Bark at the Park” where the first 50 dogs through the gates will receive a pup cup and NIU dog bandana. Admission is free to the game.