URBANA, Ill.—Dropping their final non-conference game of the season, the Northern Illinois University Huskies (17-24, 11-9 MAC) fell by a score of 9-2 to the University of Illinois Fighting Illini (20-23, 4-11 Big Ten), 9-2.
 
Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) was the lone Huskie to record multiple hits in this afternoon's contest. This is the third time in the last four games that Stewart has been credited with multiple hits.
 
"We came out on offense and scored first," said NIU head coach Kathryn Gleason. "We had good energy to start the game. We just need to have a sense of urgency to play all seven innings."
 
Three Huskies recorded hits in the first inning, the only inning with multiple hits, as Stewart's RBI double sent Lia Nance (Oceanside, Calif./Oceanside) across the plate for the first run of the game. Stewart scored the Huskies' final run of the game as Rylie Hartman (Kankakee, Ill./Herscher) picked up the second out of the inning.
 
Illinois answered the Huskies opening runs with a run of their own in the first inning, trimming NIU's lead to one at 2-1.
 
The Fighting Illini took the lead in the bottom of the third with back-to-back runs. Illinois kept the offensive pressure on, adding two more hits on two additional runs as they took a 5-2 lead over NIU. Illinois added runs in the fourth inning, via a two-run home run, and two additional runs in the sixth inning as they handed NIU their second straight loss.
 
Lily Cassell (LaGrange, Ohio/Keystone) took on pitching duties for the Huskies and recorded a strikeout in each of the first two innings for NIU. Hannah Bolly (Beloit, Wis./Parker) saw action in the circle for the Huskies, recording the final two strikeouts for NIU.
 
The Huskies will begin a five-game homestand on April 25-26 as they host Akron for a three-game series. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. on April 25 at Mary M. Bell Field.