EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Northern Illinois University Softball team suffered a 4-2 setback to Evansville at Cooper Stadium Tuesday afternoon.
 
"We did a nice job of scoring early but we need to be more aggressive at the plate and find our consistency," said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. "Our defense had a nice game and got us off the field when we needed it."
 
The Huskies (9-10) jumped out to quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but were unable to keep Evansville (8-12) at bay. Kayti Grable (Santana, Calif./Santee) led the way for NIU at the plate, going 2-for-3 on the day with two RBIs and a run scored.
 
Grable was responsible for NIU's first two runs of the game. The Huskie senior drove in the first run of the game when she singled to right field to score Jessica Rio (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield East) from second. However, the Purple Aces retook the lead in the bottom half of the inning on a two-run homer.
 
NIU tied the game in the top of the third when Grable hit her fourth home run over the left field fence. Unfortunately for the Huskies, that would be their last run of the game. Evansville took that run back in the bottom of the frame and added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth.
 
Purple Aces starter Morgan Florey was strong in the circle for Evansville and kept the Huskies off balance. While allowing two runs on six hits and a walk, Florey struck out 14 Huskies in seven innings of work.
 
NIU returns to action Friday when the Huskies travel to Iowa City, Iowa to compete in the Hawkeye Invitational. The Huskies will face South Dakota (12 p.m.) and South Dakota State (3:30 p.m.).
 
-NIU-