KENT, Ohio—Taking two of three games in the series, the Northern Illinois University Huskies softball team (17-23, 11-9 MAC) claimed the series victory over the Kent State University Golden Flashes (9-34, 2-17 MAC). The Huskies and Golden Flashes started the day with the conclusion of the game from April 19 that was delayed due to inclement weather, with the Huskies coming from behind to win 9-8. The Huskies took the first game of the scheduled doubleheader, 5-3, before falling in the final game of the series, 9-3.
 
In the first game, five different Huskies recorded multiple hits as Lia Nance (Oceanside, Calif./Oceanside) marked her first game with multiple stolen bases.
 
Jenna Turner (Marengo, Ill./Marengo) went 3-for-3 at the plate in the second game while scoring two runs for the NIU offense.
 
Turner was the lone Huskie to be credited with multiple hits in the final game of the series, going 3-of-4 at the plate with a run scored.
 
"I'm happy to get the series win and (am proud) of how the team fought back. (It was) not an easy day for the team to resume the halted game and then play a doubleheader. They were determined to get the wins today and weren't going to let being tired be an excuse against a good team," said NIU head coach Kathryn Gleason. "Right now, we just need to keep trusting ourselves and our preparation, especially in with situational hitting. (The) MAC is a competitive conference, regardless of standings, and we are going to take care of business."
 
Game One Recap (NIU 9, Kent State 8)
 
Madison Mathews (Yuma, Ariz./Cibola) hit her sixth home run of the season in the first, a two-run ball that went to left field for the first two runs of the game for NIU. Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) marked her third home run of the season, a three-run home run in the fourth inning for the Huskies.
 
Kent State answered the Huskies big fourth inning with five unanswered runs in the fourth and fifth innings as they took an 8-6 lead over NIU. Rylie Hartman (Kankakee, Ill./Herscher) hit an RBI single up the middle as Stewart scored her second run of the day to make it a one-run game.
 
NIU put two runners on in the top of the seventh before a lightning in the area forced a delay of game. After the delay, Stewart loaded the bases with a walk with Nance and Brianna Pechman (West Chicago, Ill./West Chicago Community) on. Mathews had a 2-RBI single up the middle to send Nance and Pechman across as NIU took the lead at 9-8.
 
Taylor Mackin (Minooka, Ill./Minooka Community) got her first win of the season in the circle while Lily Cassell (LaGrange, Ohio/Keystone) struck out two batters in the opening game.
 
Game Two Recap (NIU 5, Kent State 3)
 
Katy Ramage (Germantown Hills, Ill./Metamora Township) sent her first home run of the season out to left field as Turner and Mathews scored on the hit with NIU taking a 3-0 lead.
 
Mia Morera (Simi Valley, Calif./Westlake) scored on Jaylyn Brister's (Columbia, Ill./Columbia) sacrifice fly to center field before Turner added the fifth run of the game on Stewart's RBI single.
 
Kent State threatened with a two out triple in the third before Morera collected the final out of the inning. The Golden Flashes put one run on the board in the bottom of the fifth, trimming NIU's lead to four at 5-1.
 
Kent State had a pair of lead-off home runs in the sixth and seventh innings as their comeback fell short. Stewart recorded two strikeouts in the final inning as NIU took the second game of the series.
 
Stewart pitched her third complete game of the season and struck out five batters from Kent State.
 
Game Three Recap (NIU 3, Kent State 9)
 
Hartman answered the Golden Flashes first inning run with a lead-off solo home run in the second inning for the Huskies. This was Hartman's third home run of the season.
 
Kent State took the lead back in the bottom of the second and held a 2-1 advantage over NIU for the next two innings.
 
Alana Powell (Chicago, Ill./Kenwood Academy) and Turner led the fifth inning off with back-to-back singles for the Huskies. Brister hit her first career double down the right field line to send Powell and Turner across the plate for the Huskies first lead of the game.
 
The Golden Flashes offense took charge in the bottom of the sixth, scoring seven runs off six hits.
 
Cassell recorded two strikeouts for the Huskies in the final game of the series while Stewart had the final hit for NIU.
 
NIU softball continues action on the road as they travel to the University of Illinois on April 23. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. at Eichelberger Field on the Illinois campus.