BUFFALO, NY— Jenna Turner (Marengo, Ill./Marengo) broke the Northern Illinois University softball record for runs scored in a single game with five runs in the second game of the doubleheader as the Huskies swept the Bulls of the University at Buffalo. The Huskies (14-22, 9-8 MAC) defeated the Bulls (9-26, 4-10 MAC) 5-3 in the first game before posting a score of 20-2 in the second game, winning in five innings.
 
The Huskies broke the school record for single game RBIs with 20 in the second game. The previous record was set at 19 in 2011 against Colorado State. The 20 runs scored in the second game matched the school record for runs in a single game which was set in 1982 against Indiana State.
 
NIU recorded a season-best 19 hits in the second game after recorded a season-best five doubles in the first game.
 
"The offense came alive and that's what we are capable of doing every game. I thought we executed well in the first game and that gave them confidence in the second game," noted NIU head coach Kathryn Gleason.
 
Madison Mathews (Yuma, Ariz./Cibola) went 4-of-4 at the plate in the first game and recorded the lone home run for the Huskies. Lily Cassell (LaGrange, Ohio/Keystone) recorded a career-best 10 strikeouts in the first game of the doubleheader.
 
Turner went 4-of-4 in the second game and had 5 RBIs in the contest. Lia Nance (Oceanside, Calif./Oceanside) and Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) both went 3-of-3 in the second game with a combined 5 RBIs.
 
"Lily (Cassell) pitched well with 10 strikeouts in the first game against a talented lineup, especially 1 through 4. Taylor (Mackin) did what we needed her to do in the second game and she got us what we needed. In the second game, a lot of hits went deep in the count. We were able to be strong at the plate and kept the bats hot." said Gleason. "Right now, we are carrying the momentum into Wednesday.  I'm very proud of the way we played, and it was a team win all around."
 
Game One Recap (NIU 5, Buffalo 3)
 
Leading off for NIU, Turner singled up the middle before advancing to second on passed ball. Nance was the second Huskie on base, reaching via an error as NIU put runners on the corners. NIU saw hits from Mathews and Katy Ramage (Germanton Hills, Ill./Metamora Township) as Cassell issued two walks while striking out four of the Bulls in her first two innings pitched.
 
The first three hits in the third inning were doubles to the outfield as Nance doubled to left field. Stewart's double to center field sent Nance across the plate for the first run of the game before Mathews doubled to right-center to keep the Huskies on the bases. The Bulls ended the Huskies offense with a pair of outs as two runners were left stranded.
 
Buffalo took the lead in the bottom of the third on back-to-back hits for a 2-1 lead as they recorded three hits in the inning.
 
Heading into the fourth, Ally Rodriguez (Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield East) and Natalie Miller (Fredonia, Wis./Ozaukee) had back-to-back singles before Turner recorded the fourth double of the game for NIU to send Rodriguez across for the tying run.  
 
Mathews hit her fifth home run of the season to lead off the Huskies in the fifth inning and tied the game at three. The Huskies defense allowed only one hit and stranded the runner on the base path as Cassell added two strikeouts to her day.
 
After recording a pair of quick outs in the top of the sixth, Turner singled through the right side to reach base. Nance reached via an error by the Bulls defense which sent Turner across the plate for the Huskie lead. Nance added the fifth run of the game for NIU on Stewart's RBI single as NIU loaded the bases with two more singles from Mathews and Ramage.
 
Miller marked her second double of the season, sending the ball down the right field line in the seventh inning before being left stranded on the bases. The Huskies allowed one hit in the final inning of play as they took the first game of the doubleheader.
 
Game Two Recap (NIU 20, Buffalo 2, 5 Innings)
 
Three consecutive singles were how the Huskies led off in the second game as Turner scored the first run on Stewart's RBI single to center field. Nance scored the second run of the game for the Huskies as Ramage grounded out to shortstop before the Bulls collected the final out of the inning.
 
Rylie Hartman (Kankakee, Ill./Herscher) led the second inning off with a single up the middle as she advanced to third after a pair of groundouts by NIU. Nance hit an RBI single to the shortstop to send Hartman across for the third run of the game. Action continued as Stewart recorded her second RBI single of the game as Turner scored the fourth run. Mathews had the final hit of the inning for the Huskies, sending Nance across the plate, capping a three-run, four-hit inning for the Huskies.
 
The Huskies loaded the bases in the top of the third with a pair of singles and a walk. Rodriguez reached via a walk as Miller scored the sixth run of the game with no outs in the inning for the Huskies. Turner hit her third triple of the season to send Rodriguez, Alana Powell (Chicago, Ill./Kenwood Academy), and Hartman across the plate. Nance hit a sacrifice fly to center field for Turner to score as the Huskies recorded a pair of singles before ending the third inning.
 
NIU's offense continued to add runs with three consecutive runs scored in the top of the fourth inning before the first out was recorded. The Huskies added a fourth run in the inning to extend their lead to 12, at 14-2.
 
Turner singled in her last at bat during the fifth inning to reach base and sent Brianna Pechman across the plate. Recording her first career hit, Mia Morera (Simi Valley, Calif./Westlake) singled up the middle to send Hailey Olivera (Oxnard, Calif./Rio Mesa) and Turner across the plate. Turner's run broke the NIU school record for runs in a single game. The Huskies weren't done scoring in the inning as Mathews hit an RBI double to right-center field sent Morera and Nance across the plate for the final runs of the game. NIU took the game in five innings for their third time this season.  
 
The Huskies are next in action on April 16 at 4 p.m. as they host Bradley at Mary M. Bell Field in a non-conference matchup.