ATHENS, OHIO— A back-and-forth game started the day for the Northern Illinois University Huskies softball squad as they dropped a pair of games against the Ohio University Bobcats. With the pair of losses, the Huskies dropped to 9-22 on the year and 3-8 in MAC play.  
 
Caitlyn Shumaker (Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine) had two home runs in the first game of the day, with both home runs being 2-run homers. Prior to today's first game, Shumaker had only one home run during the 2024 season.
 
"Unfortunately, we didn't play our best defense today, which cost us," NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe said. "The top of the lineup did a great job continually putting pressure on Ohio. Tomorrow, we need to be a little sharper and get the job done."
 
Game One Recap (NIU 6, Ohio 11)
 
Jenna Turner (Marengo, Ill./Marengo) got the first Huskie hit of the day, a single through the left side to reach base before she claimed her seventh stolen base of the season. Shumaker hit her second home run of the season, a two-run home run to put the Huskies on top 2-0. The Huskies would see two more stolen bases in the top of the first before leaving the bases loaded with back-to-back outs to end the inning.
 
The Bobcats quickly tied the game up at two in the bottom of the inning before taking the lead at 3-2 on a sacrifice fly. The Bobcats added to their score in the second inning, taking a 4-2 lead over the Huskies.
 
Shumaker grabbed her first stolen base of the game, stealing home for the third run of the day for the Huskies. Cara Cruthers (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) got her second RBI of the season, sending Katy Ramage (Germantown Hills, Ill./Metamora Township) home for the tying run.
 
Shumaker hit her second home run of the game in the top of the first, a two-run home run to give the Huskies a 6-5 lead.

The Bobcats recorded their first home run of the game, a two-run home run, in the bottom of the fifth frame to reclaim the lead. The Bobcats added one to their lead before being retired as the Huskies trailed 8-6 heading into the sixth.
 
Ellis Erickson (Lutz, Fla./Freedom) marked her tenth consecutive game with a hit, getting a single in the top of the sixth.
 
The Bobcats defense kept the Huskies from scoring in the fifth and sixth innings as they added to their score line. The Bobcats added three runs in the bottom of the sixth to take an 11-6 lead over the Huskies.
 
Game Two Recap (NIU 2, Ohio 4)
 
After opening hits in the first and second innings by Shumaker and Avery Carnahan (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston), Courtney James (Fishers, Ind./Fishers) reached base on a fielder's choice. James recorded the first stolen base of the game for the Huskies before being brought home on Cruthers' RBI single in the top of the second inning.
 
The Bobcats regained the lead on a 2-run home run in the bottom of the second.

Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) scored the tying run in the bottom of the third, crossing home plate on Carnahan's RBI single to center field.

The Bobcats defense kept the Huskies off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game, adding their final runs in the fourth and sixth innings.  
 
Huskie Notes

• The first game of the day saw five lead changes.
• Ramage had two stolen bases in the first game and the Huskies had six stolen bases in the game.  
• Erickson has had a hit in the last 11 games for the Huskies, including six games with multiple hits.
• Lily Cassell (LaGrange, Ohio/Keystone) recorded the first two strikeouts in the second game, with both strikeouts occurring in the sixth inning.
• The Huskies nine hits in the second game, the tenth time this season they have had nine or more hits.
• Cruthers recorded her first back-to-back RBI games in the losses. 

The Huskies will conclude their three-game series against the Ohio Bobcats on April 7 at 12 p.m. ET.