DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University softball team suffered a 4-3 setback to Akron in the series opener with the Zips at Mary M. Bell Field on Friday afternoon.
 
A four-run sixth by Akron (4-29, 3-16) proved to be the difference in the contest.
 
After NIU (12-25, 6-15) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single by Kara Apato, the Zips responded in the top of the sixth. Of those four runs, three were scored with two outs.
 
The Huskies came back in the bottom of the sixth to pull within a run, with a chance to tie or take the lead.
 
With runners on second and third with no outs, Katie Keller singled to right field to clear the bases and pull NIU to within a run. Following a Bianca Barone single, Carley Goetchius sacrificed Keller and Barone to third and second, respectively. NIU loaded the bases when Kira Mickelson was hit by a pitch.
 
Keller paced the Huskies at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
 
Unfortunately for the Huskies, the next two batters were unable to push across the tying or leading run.  A fielder's choice resulted in an out at the plate and another groundout ended the inning for NIU. The Huskies went down in order in their final at bat. Friday's loss was the Huskies' 11th one-run loss in 14 such games.
 
"We just have to figure out a way to be a little bit better when the game is on the line," NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe said. "Our team's tired of losing games by one-run, but we have to do something different to change the pattern. We just need to more aggressive."
 
NIU and Akron return to Mary M. Bell Field tomorrow for a doubleheader. First pitch for game one is set for 1 p.m. with the second game to follow. Fans can watch all the games on NIUTube or follow via live stats on NIUHuskies.com.
 
-NIU-