ATHENS, Ohio – Late inning heroics in game two helped propel the Northern Illinois University softball team to a split with Ohio at Ohio Softball Field Friday afternoon.

The Huskies (15-16, 2-2) suffered an 11-3 loss to Ohio (23-11, 4-1) in game one of the doubleheader before earning a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over the Bobcats in game two. All five of NIU's runs in game two came via the long ball and were assisted by wildness by Mackensie Kohl.

Down, 4-2, after five innings, the Huskies rallied for a three spot in the top of the sixth. With runners at first and second with two outs Sam Schmidt (Lombard, Ill./Willowbrook) blasted a three-run shot to left to clear the bases and give the Huskies the lead.

Bianca Barone (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) began the rally when she reached via an error by the Oho shortstop. Kira Mickelson (Wheatland, Wis./Westosha Central) was then hit by a pitch two batters later.

Mackenzie Bryan (Elwood, Ind./Elwood) made the lead stick, and picked up the win. She improved to 9-6 on the year allowing four runs on five hits and eight walks.

NIU got on the board in the fifth inning with the Huskies trailing, 4-0, to start the inning. NIU cut the lead in half with one swing. With a runner on and two outs, Jenny Van Geertry (Mokena, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) blasted her eighth home run of the season.

"Jenny and Sam came up very clutch in the second game and provided the offense we needed," said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. "Kenzie did a great job making a huge pitch when we needed her to and get us off the field."

The first game of the day was all Ohio. After NIU jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the top of the first, the Bobcats responded with five runs in the first and four in the second. A run in the third and another in the fourth sealed the win for Ohio.

The Huskies return to action Saturday with the series final with Ohio. First pitch is set for at 10 a.m. Central Time.

-NIU-