CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Northern Illinois University softball team fell to Longwood, 7-2, in its final game at the College of Charleston "Cougar Classic" on Sunday. 
 
The Huskies (2-8) were unable to contain the Lancer (3-1) offense and were held in check for the second time around by Longwood in the tournament.
 
"We definitely didn't have our best performance," said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. "For us, at this point, it's definitely all about trying to figure out what we need to learn and how we're going to get better and continue to move forward. We're better than we were last weekend, so that's what counts."
 
Longwood opened the scoring with a run in the first inning. NIU tied the game in the bottom of the second on a lead-off homer by Jenny Van Geertry (Mokena, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) to left field.
 
However, the Lancers regained the lead in the top of the third when they scored a pair of runs on a two-out single by Jessica Smith. The Huskies answered in the bottom of the fourth when Katie Wingerter earned a bases-loaded two-out walk to drive in Alaynie Woollard (New Castle, Ind./New Castle) and pull NIU to within a run.
 
Unfortunately for NIU, that is as close as the Huskies would get. Longwood put together a three-run fifth and tacked on an insurance run in the sixth.
 
Van Geertry and Anne Allen (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way North) accounted for all three Huskie hits on the day. Van Geertry went 1-for-2 with a walk, RBI and run scored, While Allen went 2-for-4 on the day.
 
The Huskies return to the diamond Friday, Mar. 2 when NIU travels to Carbondale, Ill. to compete in the Coach B Classic hosted by Southern Illinois. The Huskies open the tournament versus in-state foe Illinois. First pitch is set for 10 a.m. CT.
 
­-NIU-