Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 ATHENS, Ohio – The Northern Illinois University softball team wrapped up play at Ohio University by completing a sweep of Rutgers, while losing a pair to the Bobcats at the Ohio Softball Stadium Saturday.
 
"Offensively, we did what we needed to do against Rutgers and we need to make some adjustments the next time we play Ohio," NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe said. "We will work on getting one run better by May for the next time we see Ohio."
 
NIU 3, Ohio 4 10 Innings
 
The Huskies (2-2) completed their game with Ohio from Friday afternoon Saturday morning. The game was halted in the top of the eighth Friday due to darkness. NIU took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on an Abby Howlett (South Elgin, Ill./St. Charles North) on a two-run homer to center field. However, Ohio tied the game in the bottom of the seventh on a two-run homer by Madison Claytor with one out.
 
NIU took a 3-2 lead in the top of the 10th on a Howlett double. Unfortunately for the Huskies, the Bobcats came back with two runs in the bottom of the inning. With runners at second and third with two outs, Morgan Geno singled to drive in both runs.
 
Rutgers 2, NIU 6
 
A five-run sixth inning proved to be the difference as the Huskies rallied to win their second game of the season. Trailing 2-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth, Kayti Grable (Santana, Calif./Santee) who hit her second home run of the season in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game, 1-1, coaxed a leadoff walk to begin the rally. Grable's homer was the 33rd of her career which moved her ahead of Emily Naegele on the school's career home runs list.
 
Following Grable's walk, Bekah Harnish (Maple Park, Ill./Burlington Central) singled and  Alaynie Woollard (New Castle, Ind./New Castle) walked to load the bases. Jessica Rio (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield) tied the game with a single to left, before Howlett doubled to left center to clear the bases and give NIU a 5-2 lead. Dominique Greeno (Lacey, Wash./North Thurston) capped the scoring when she scored Howlett from third on a groundout to first base.
 
Tara Thacker (Uniontown, Ohio/North Canton Hoover) pitched well against the Scarlett Knights, going four innings, allowing two runs, one earned, in four innings of work. Keegan Hayes (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) came in to pitch in relief to throw three scoreless innings to pick up the win.
 
"Tara pitched really well," Sutcliffe said. "She held her own against Ohio and keep is in it against Rutgers. Keegan did a great job in relief today being able to keep us in the second Ohio game and closing the door in the Rutgers game and getting the win."
 
NIU 2, Ohio 3
 
In the final game of the weekend, the Huskies rallied from a 2-0 third-inning deficit, but were unable to take a lead over Ohio.
 
The Bobcats jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a Geno home run in the third. NIU tied the game in the top of the sixth. Grable drove in the first run of the inning on an infield groundout to score Kali Kossakowski (Elgin, Ill./St. Edward). Harnish tied the game when she drove in Jenny Van Geertry (Mokena, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) on a sacrifice fly.
 
The Bobcats scored game-winning run when Alexa Holland, who came in as a pinch runner and advanced to third on a throwing error, stole home on a double steal.
 
NIU returns to the diamond Feb. 24 when the Huskies travel to Beaumont, Texas to face Alabama A&M. First pitch is set for 12:15 p.m. CT.
 
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