MURRAY, Ky. – The Northern Illinois University Softball team suffered a pair of losses in its first two games of the 2017 Racer Classic at Racer Field Friday.
 
The Huskies (8-8) suffered a 6-3 loss to Austin Peay in Game 1 before falling to host Murray State, 7-5, in Game 2. In both games, NIU had a lead early, but wasn't able to hold on.
 
"Murray State has a great team this year and they're going to continue to put runs up throughout the game," said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. "We just couldn't figure out how to get off the field.
 
"All day today, that was kind of our theme. We didn't play great defense by any means. We definitely have a lot of room for improvement there. It was nice to see in the Murray State game we started to hit again."
 
After falling behind, 2-0, after the top of the second to the Governors, the Huskies put up a three spot in the bottom of the frame, scoring all three runs without the benefit of a hit.
 
Back-to-back walks and a hit batter loaded the bases for Jenny Van Geertry (Mokena, Ill./Lincoln-Way East). During Van Geertry's at bat, the Austin Peay pitcher uncorked a wild pitch to score Abby Howlett (South Elgin, Ill./St. Charles North) from third. An RBI groundout by Becca Rupard (Normal, Ill./Normal West) tied the game, 2-2. Kali Kossakowski (Elgin, Ill./St. Edward) laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Alaynie Woollard (New Castle, Ind./New Castle).
 
Unfortunately for NIU, that would be all the offense it could muster. NIU tallied one hit on the day, a two-out single by Jessica Rio (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield) in the sixth. Austin Peay posted runs in the fourth and fifth innings and scored two runs in the top of the seventh to pull out the win.
 
The Huskie offense picked up in the second game of the day, and the second meeting of the season with Murray State. NIU pounded out 10 hits in the game and took an early 3-0 lead through the first two-and-a-half innings.
 
A two-run double to right center by freshman Kayla Scaperrotta (Margate, Fla./Coral Springs Charter gave NIU a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Sam Schmidt (Lombard, Ill./Willowbrook) singled up the middle to score Rio and give NIU a 3-0 advantage.
 
However, the Racers scored the next seven runs in the contest to take a 7-3 lead into the top of the seventh. NIU rallied with a pair or runs in the frame and had the tying runners at second and third with two outs. Unfortunately, Schmidt struck out looking to end the rally and the game.
 
NIU's scheduled games for Saturday have been cancelled due to cold temperatures. NIU will play Austin Peay and Murray State Sunday, but game times have not been determined yet.
 
-NIU-