MUNCIE, Ind. – The Northern Illinois University Softball team lost its doubleheader with Ball State at the Softball Field @FMBC Tuesday afternoon.
 
The Huskies (16-14, 4-4) suffered 3-2 loss to the Cardinals (24-17, 7-1) in the first game of the day, and fell 6-4 in game two. In both games, the Huskies took an early lead but were unable to build on it and the NIU defense committed three errors contributing to both Cardinal rallies.
 
"We aren't good enough to get out of innings with four, five or six outs in an inning," said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. "Once we do that [stop allowing extra outs], we'll be alright."
 
NIU took an early lead in the first game of the day when Alaynie Woollard (New Castle, Ind./New Castle) singled to center to drive in Kali Kossakowski (Elgin, Ill./St. Edward) from second in the top of the first. Woollard, who advanced to second on the play, scored on the next at bat when Anne Allen (New Lennox, Ill./Lincoln-Way North) singled to right field.
 
However, Ball State came back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second, capitalizing on a Huskie error.  Madison Lee reached on an error by the Huskies to open the inning and scored on a two-run homer by Olivia Huffman two batters later. The Cardinals took the lead in the bottom of the fifth on a solo shot by Janae Hogg.
 
Bekah Harnish (Maple Park, Ill./Burlington Central) provided all the offense for the Huskies in game two. The Huskies junior, who was on a tear during NIU's seven-game homestand, continued her hot hitting. With the bases loaded and two outs, the Huskie catcher belted a 2-2 pitch over the centerfield fence.
 
Unfortunately for NIU, the Huskies were unable to build on that lead and Ball State chipped away the next five innings. The Cardinals scored a run in the bottom of the third on an NIU throwing error and two more in the bottom of the sixth on another Huskie miscue as part of a three-run sixth to tie the game, 4-4.
 
After NIU failed to scratch across a run in the top of the seventh, Ball State's Amanda Arnett ended the game in the bottom of the inning. With a runner at second and one out, Arnett hit her first home run of the season over the right-centerfield fence to give the Cardinals the victory.
 
"Harnish had a huge grand slam for us and Keegan got us out of some tough situations," Sutcliffe said. "Overall, Alex pitched pretty well today."
 
Keegan Hayes (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) started game two for the Huskies, allowing five hits, three walks and three runs in five innings of work. Alex Frenz (Oakville, Mo./Oakville), who started the first game, came in and pitched the final inning and a third of game two and allowed three runs, two earned on three hits.
 
NIU returns to the diamond Friday when the Huskies travel to Kent, Ohio for a doubleheader with Kent State. First pitch for game one is set for 2 p.m. CT.
 
-NIU-