DEKALB, Ill. – A five-run bottom of the seventh powered the Northern Illinois University softball team to a comeback 6-5 win over visiting Kent State University in Game 1 of a Mid-American Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon.

The Huskies unfortunately couldn't complete the sweep in the second game as Kent State pitching held NIU to only four hits in a 3-0 loss.

"Scoring five runs in the seventh was a great comeback and a great win for us in the first game," Huskies head coach Christina Sutcliffe said. "Unfortunately we weren't able to carry that momentum into the final game. We just couldn't figure out their pitcher in Game 2. Our nemesis right now is leaving runners in scoring position and not getting the hit when we need it."

NIU overcame a 5-1 deficit in Game 1 by taking advantage of two Kent State errors and nine hits all while getting a solid pitching performance from junior Delaney Ostrowski (Geneseo, Ill./Geneseo) who picked up her third win of the season. She struck out two batters in her fourth complete game effort.

Kent State took a 2-0 lead in the fifth on a pair of RBI doubles. NIU was able to trim the deficit in half when it executed a perfect double steal in the bottom half of the frame allowing Avery Carnahan (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston) to score, but again Kent State responded with a three-run home run in the seventh to move ahead 5-1.

"We had tremendous fight and we knew we had that in us," Sutcliffe said. "But we just need to figure out how to be more consistent with it."

An RBI double from Kelly Walinski (Worth, Ill./Marist), allowing Amberly Rodriguez (Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield) to score started the comeback for NIU in the seventh. Kara Apato (Oak Lawn, Ill./Marist) then followed with an RBI single and Katie Keller (Geneva, Ill./Geneva) roped a two-run single to right field plating both Apato and Walinski. NIU batted around in the inning and Rodriguez coaxed a bases-loaded walk to score Keller for the game-winning run.

In Game 2, both Sam Mallinder (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) and Caitlyn Shumaker (Bellefontaine, Ohio/North Dakota) each stole a base, but the Huskies stranded six runners on base and couldn't manufacture an extra base hit.

At the conclusion of the twin bill, the NIU softball coaches, staff and family recognized its six outstanding seniors – Bianca Barone (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem), Keller, Maddie Mackey (Geneseo, Ill./Geneseo), Rodriguez, Mackenzie Mahy (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln Way West) and Apato – for the hard work and dedication they've given to the program in their careers as Huskie student-athletes.

"The seniors have had an amazing career," Sutcliffe said, "and I'm so proud of how they have left this program."

NIU (11-21, 5-12) looks to rebound Wednesday when it steps out of MAC play to host DePaul University for a 3 p.m. contest.

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