Recording a combined eight hits in the doubleheader, the Northern Illinois University Huskies softball team (7-20, 2-6 MAC) dropped both games this afternoon to the Bobcats of Ohio University (22-8, 5-0 MAC) at Mary M. Bell Field. The Huskies fell 8-4 in the first game before falling 10-1 in the second game.

Jenna Turner (Marengo, Ill./Marengo) scored a pair of runs in the first game for the Huskies as she went 1-4 at the plate.

Madison Mathews (Yuma, Ariz./Cibola) hit her fourth home run of the season as she was the lone Huskie to score in the second game.

“We didn’t execute well today against a very good ball team in Ohio,” said NIU head coach Kathryn Gleason. “We’ve got to make adjustments and come out tomorrow right away and keep fighting through every pitch.”

Ohio took 3-0 lead over the Huskies after two innings of play as they recorded four hits. The Bobcats were held without a hit in the third inning before adding four runs off five hits in the fourth as they jumped out to a 7-0 lead over NIU.

Turner singled to left field to lead off in the fourth inning and record the Huskies first hit of the game. A Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) RBI double brought home Turner for the first run of the game for NIU. Stewart took on pitching took for the Huskies through three innings and recorded a pair of strikeouts.

In the fifth inning, the Bobcats scored one run off a hit as they took an 8-1 lead over the Huskies. The NIU defense started to click, catching two Bobcats out at home to stop a score.

Ally Rodriguez (Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield East) marked her first hit of the season with a single to the infield. Turner scored her second run of the day on a wild pitch before a Katy Ramage (Germantown Hills, Ill./Metamora Township) RBI double sent Rodriguez across home plate. Avery Carnahan (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston) scored the final run of the game for the Huskies.

The Bobcats scored a pair of runs off three hits in the first inning as they took a 2-0 lead over the Huskies. The NIU defense would hold them to just one hit in the second inning as Mathews hit her home run to left-center field.

After Ohio added their third run of the game in the third inning, the Huskie defense held the Bobcats to one hit in the fourth and fifth innings.

Mathews and Kayla Estrada (Riverside, Calif./Martin Luther King) were credited with hits in the fourth and fifth innings as the Huskies left four runners on base.

Ohio extended their lead in the sixth, scoring four runs off four hits before adding three runs off four hits in the seventh as they handed the Huskies their seventh straight loss.

Lily Cassell (LaGrange, Ohio/Keystone) was in the circle for just over three innings and recorded three of the Huskies four strikeouts, including a pair of consecutive ones in the fifth inning.

The Huskies conclude the three-game series on March 29 with a 12 p.m. first pitch at Mary M. Bell Field. March 29 is Kid’s Day and First Responder’s Day. Fans are invited to stay after Saturday’s game for a post-game autograph session with the 2025 Huskies Softball team.

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