CEDAR FALLS, Iowa— Dropping a pair of games today, the Northern Illinois University Huskies (1-2) softball program fell to the University of Nebraska Omaha Mavericks (2-1) and the University of Northern Iowa Panthers (3-0).
The Huskies fell 4-1 to Omaha before falling to Northern Iowa, 7-3.
Ellis Erickson (Lutz, Fla./Freedom) went 3-of-7 day and scored a home run in the Huskies second game of the day.
Brianna Pechman (West Chiacgo, Ill./West Chicago Community) was 1-of-1 at the plate with two walks on the day.
"Ellis (Erickson) had a phenomenal day and is off to a good start, she's keeping things simple and doing what she needs to do. Bri (Pechman) was able to get some opportunities and be a spark for us offensively," said NIU head coach
Christina Sutcliffe. "We have to take it one pitch, one run at a time and just play our game."
Omaha Recap (Omaha 4, NIU 1)
Erickson led the Huskies off in that inning with a ground-rule double before scoring. Pechman reached base on a walk and was caught stealing as Erickson scored the lone run for the Huskies in the fifth inning.
Erickson, Pechman, and
Jenna Turner (Marengo, Ill./Marengo) were the only Huskies to record hits in the contest.
After scoring runs in the second and third innings, the Huskies defense held the Mavericks from scoring in the final innings of the game. The Huskie pitchers allowed eights hits and struck out six batters.
Madison Carlson (South Beloit, Ill./South Beloit) saw action in four innings, issued one walk, and had four strikeouts.
Northern Iowa Recap (Northern Iowa 7, NIU 3)
The Panthers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning as Erickson hit her second double of the day to reach base in the first inning.
Erickson homered to right field in the third inning for the Huskies first run of the game.
Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) and
Caitlyn Shumaker (Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine) reached base before
Katy Ramage (Germantown Hills, Ill./Metamora Township) hit a 2 RBI single as the Huskies took a 3-2 lead over the Panthers.
The Panthers tied the game at three in the bottom of the third before shutting the Huskies out the remainder of the game.
The Huskie pitchers had six strikeouts in the game, with Stewart recording five strikeouts.
The Huskies conclude action at the Doc Halverson UNI-Dome Classic on February 11. The Huskies open the day against Butler at 9 a.m. before taking on Drake at 11:30 a.m.
