MOBILE, Al.— Dropping a pair of games on the opening day of the South Alabama Tournament, the Northern Illinois University Huskies softball program faced off against the Colonels of Eastern Kentucky University and the Blazers of UAB.

With the pair of losses, the Huskies fell to 2-5 on the season.

This was the fifth meeting between the Huskies and the Colonels of EKU and the third meeting against UAB.

"Today, we didn't show our best ball but (we) are continuing to grow and learn from our mistakes," said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. "We showed a lot of fight­ in the second game and know we have more in us. I expect us to come out tomorrow, a better team."

Eastern Kentucky Recap (Eastern Kentucky 3, NIU 0)

Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) and the Huskies held the Colonels without a hit through the first three innings of the contest. Stewart recorded five strikeouts in nearly five innings in the circle for the Huskies.

The Colonels put two runs on the board in the fifth inning on two hits to take a 2-0 lead over the Huskies. Eastern Kentucky added their final run of the day in the sixth inning.

Courtney James (Fishers, Ind./Fishers) had the lone hit of the day for the Huskies, a single to second base in the final frame of action.

The Huskies game against Eastern Kentucky featured a 42-minute rain delay in the middle of the sixth inning.

UAB Recap (UAB 12, NIU 8)

UAB got on the board first in the first inning, scoring two runs.

In the third frame, Ellis Erickson (Lutz, Fla./Freedom) hit an RBI single to the pitcher, a bunt, as Brianna Pechman (West Chicago, Ill./West Chicago Community) scored the first run. Katy Ramage (Germantown Hills, Ill./Metamora Township) had an RBI single to right field as Erickson scored the tying run. Caitlyn Shumaker (Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine) hit an RBI single as Stewart scored the Huskies third run. Ramage had the final run of the third inning, as Kacie Quick (Bloomington, Ill//Normal West) hit a sacrifice fly to center field.

The Blazers were hot in the fourth frame, scoring nine runs on seven hits to take an 11-4 lead over the Huskies.

Hitting her first triple of the season, Jenna Turner (Marengo, Ill./Marengo) brought home Kiley Conner (St. John, Ind./Lake Central). After an out by the Huskies, Pechman had an RBI single as Turner crossed home plate. As Stewart reached base on a throwing error by the Blazers, James and Pechman scored a pair of runs for the Huskies.  

The Blazers added their final run in the sixth inning, handing the Huskies their third straight loss.

The Huskies return to action at the South Alabama tournament on February 17. The Huskies will face off against UAB at 9 a.m. before meeting tournament hosts, South Alabama, at 2 p.m.