Amanda Sheppard
The Northern Illinois University softball team dropped a doubleheader to Loyola at Loyola Softball Park Wednesday.
The Huskies (12-16) fell, 10-3, in the opener and suffered a 9-1 loss in six innings in the nightcap.
After falling behind, 1-0, after the first inning in Game One, NIU responded with a pair of runs in the top of the second to take a 2-1 lead. However, Loyola (8-12) answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning. The big blow of the game came in the bottom of the fourth when the Ramblers put up a four-spot to take a 7-2 lead.
Loyola capitalized on 12 base on balls and three Huskie errors to take Game Two. Northern Illinois took a 1-0 lead on a RBI single to center Shelby Miller (Ottawa, Kan./Ottawa) in the top of the third. However, Loyola came back with five runs in the bottom of the inning.
Northern Illinois had a great scoring opportunity in the top of the fourth after a leadoff double by Amanda Sheppard (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) and a walk by Erika Oswald (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South). Unfortunately, back to back strikeouts and a foul out ended the threat. The Ramblers made the Huskies pay, adding two more runs in the bottom of the fourth on an error and five walks.
Northern continued to struggle driving in runs, leaving eight runners on base in the second game and seven runners in the opener.
“We’re not playing well in any facet of the game,” NIU head coach Lindsay Chouinard said. “We need to do a lot of things different and it’s got to happen fast. Miami is going to be here in two days and we need to be ready to go.”
NIU returns home Friday to open a four-game homestand and conference play when the Huskies welcome Mid-American foe Miami for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. Fans can follow all the action live, via Gametracker at NIUHuskies.com.
For more information on NIU softball and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.
