RICHMOND, KY. – The Northern Illinois University softball team suffered a pair of losses as it concluded the EKU Invitational on Sunday. 
 
The Huskies (5-15) fell to Western Carolina, 9-8, in the first game before losing to Eastern Kentucky, 11-5. 
 
"I think offensively we played two very good games," said NIU head softball coach Christina Sutcliffe.  "The first game in particular we did well scoring in multiple innings, and scored enough to win, but quite frankly, on the mound we did not get it done."
 
NIU took advantage of early opportunities against Western Carolina, in the first game of the day. The Huskies opened up a 6-0 lead with three runs in the first, two in the second and a run in the third.
 
Junior Dominique Greeno (Lacey, Wash. /North Thurston) doubled with one out and a Jenny Van Geertry (Mokena, Ill. /Lincoln-Way Central) single put runners on second and third with one out.  While Van Geetry stole second, Greeno scored on throwing error by the catcher. A couple batters later, sophomore Kayla Scaperrotta (Margate, Fla. /Coral Springs Carter School) hit a two-run homer to left field and put the Huskies up, 3-0. 
 
"It is definitely nice to start putting the ball out of the ballpark and just score a lot of runs in a hurry," said Sutcliffe.  "It was really nice to see that, but more importantly it was the doubles through the whole weekend. That is something that we have been missing in the prior weekend, so hopefully we can keep that going."
 
NIU struck right back in the second as Jessica Rio (Plainfield, Ill. /Plainfield East) started the rally with a one out walk.  After Greeno walked, Rio, who stole second, scored on a throwing error by Western Carolina.  The next batter, Van Geertry, doubled to center to drove-in Greeno from second to give NIU a 5-0 lead. 
 
The Huskies extended their lead in the top of the third when Kira Mickelson (Wheatland, Wis. /Westosha Central) singled home senior Alaynie Woollard (New Castle, Ind. /New Castle) from second.  The Huskie freshman went 2-for-4 with two RBIs in the game and NIU took a commanding 6-0 lead. 
 
"It is always nice to score first," said Sutcliffe.  "Anytime we can get runs in the first inning and grab the momentum you are looking good. Both games we were able to score early."
 
The Catamounts came back in the bottom of the third with a two-run single and a two-run home run to pull within a couple of runs of the Huskies. NIU, though, struck back in the fourth when Woollard reached on a fielder's choice and scored Van Geertry from third and the Huskies led, 7-4. 
 
Western Carolina scored on a single in the bottom of the fourth to close the gap to 7-5 and came back to score four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 9-7 lead. 
 
In the seventh Inning, Mickelson doubled home senior Keegan Hayes (Naperville, Ill. /Naperville Central) to shrink the Catamount lead to one.  After junior Katie Lamich (Naperville, Ill./ Naperville Central) singled to put Mickelson on third on the next play, Mickelson, who represented the tying run, got picked-off of third.  The next batter was junior Abby Howlett (South Elgin, Ill, /St. Charles North) and she fouled out to end the game. 
 
NIU scored first in the second game of the day as well, however fell victim to the long ball in the loss to Eastern Kentucky. 
 
The Huskies scored in the first inning when Woollard led off the inning with a double to left center.  A couple of batters later, Lamich reached on a fielder's choice, to drive-in Woollard from third and the Huskies grabbed the early 1-0 lead. 
 
The Colonels came back and cashed in three runs in the top of third on a three-run homer.   The Huskies answered back in the bottom half when Van Geertry doubled to right field with one out.  The next batter was Scaperrota, who singled to right.  Junior Sam Schmidt (Lombard, Ill. /Willowbrook) stepped up to the plate and laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Van Geertry from third and the Huskies were within one of the Colonels.
 
At the top of the fifth, Eastern Kentucky hit a grand slam and pushed their lead to 7-2.   The Huskies added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth when Howlett hit a two-run homer to pull within three of the Colonels. 
 
Eastern Kentucky picked up four more runs in the seventh to lead the Huskies, 11-4.  Greeno hit a late solo homer in the seventh, but was not enough to defeat the Colonels. 
 
The Huskies continue their spring break trip with a stop in Lexington, Ky. playing Southeastern Conference powerhouse No. 23 Kentucky on Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. 
 
–NIU–