AUSTIN, Texas—A lone run in the sixth inning prevented a shutout loss as the Northern Illinois University Huskies (1-2) took on the No. 2 Texas Longhorns (9-0) this afternoon. The Longhorns posted a 9-1 victory in six innings over the Huskies in only the third meeting between the squads.  
 
Today's contest marked the first time the NIU softball program had faced a top-5 team in school history.
 
The Huskies lone run came from Trinity Jones Estrada (Sylmar, Calif./John F. Kennedy) as she crossed the plate in the sixth inning.
 
Mia Morera (Simi Valley, Calif./Westlake) got the first hit of the game for the Huskies, with a single up the middle in the second inning.
 
Jenna Turner (Marengo, Ill./Marengo) singled to center field to keep the Huskies alive in the top of the third with two outs before Texas struck out the next Huskie batter.
 
Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) led the fourth inning off for the Huskies with a base hit through the left side.
 
Heading into the sixth inning, Jones Estrada doubled to right field before Stewart sent her teammate to third with a base hit to left field. The Huskies left three on base as they recorded two hits in the inning.
 
Aubriella Garza (Montgomery, Ill./Oswego) made her debut for the Huskies in the fifth inning. Ava Falcone (Elk Grove Village, Ill./James B. Contant) and Mallory Wollenmann (Evansville, Ind./Reitz Memorial) made their debuts in the sixth inning.
 
Stewart started the day in the circle for the Huskies, giving up a 2-run home run to her sister Texas' Katie Stewart. Stewart, Lily Cassell (LaGrange, Ohio/Keystone), and Madison Carlson (South Beloit, Ill./South Beloit) recorded the trio of strikeouts for the Huskies.
 
NIU softball returns to action on February 20-22 as they compete at the Blues City Invitational. The Huskies open action at the tournament taking on Kentucky and Indiana State at 3 and 7 p.m.
 
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