MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Northern Illinois University softball team dropped a pair of games on the first day of the Blues City Invitational. The Huskies fell 11-0 to the Kentucky Wildcats before dropping a 3-2 battle to the Sycamore of Indiana State.
 
The Kentucky pitching staff held the Huskies to just three hits in the game as they handed NIU their first shutout loss of the season.
 
Jaylyn Brister (Columbia, Ill./Columbia) hit her second career home run against Indiana State.
 
"We just need to put all three facets of the game together to get the outcome we are working for at the end of the day," said NIU head coach Kathryn Gleason.
 
Kentucky Recap (Kentucky 11, NIU 0, 5 Innings)
 
Lily Cassell (LaGrange, Ohio/Keystone) issued a walk to the first batter from Kentucky before a 2-run home run in the first inning by Kentucky. Kentucky added a run in the top of the second inning as they led 3-0 heading into the fourth inning.
 
Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) recorded the first hit of the game, a single to left field. Kayla Estrada (Riverside, Calif./Martin Luther King) followed Stewart's hit with a single to short as the Huskies put two on. The fielder's choice by the Wildcats defense ended the Huskies inning as we headed to the fifth.
 
Peyton Plotts hit Kentucky's second home run of the game before Ella Emmert hit their third home run as the Wildcats took an 8-0 lead over the Huskies. Kentucky would ultimately end up with eight runs on eight hits in the fifth innings as they run-ruled the Huskies.
 
Lia Nance (Oceanside, Calif./Oceanside) recorded the Huskies third hit, singling down the left field line in the fifth as the Huskies had two on base with two outs. Cara Cruthers (Barlett, Ill./South Elgin) struck out in the final play of the game.
 
Cassell and Hannah Bolly (Beloit, Wis./Beloit) combined for three strikeouts in the game.
 
Indiana State Recap (Indiana State 3, NIU 2)
 
Jenna Turner (Marengo, Ill./Marengo) led the Huskies off with a base hit to shallow left field before being stranded in the inning. Katy Ramage (Germantown Hills, Ill./Metamora Township) and Izzi Hanna (Granger, Ind./Penn) added a pair of runs in the bottom of the second.
 
Turner doubled to left field to lead off the third inning before being brought home on Stewart's groundout.
 
After both defenses posted hitless fourth innings, the Sycamores finally cracked the scoreboard in the fifth. Indiana State's Hannah Welch hit a home run to lead off the sixth inning. The Sycamores added a third run in the inning as they took a 3-1 lead over the Huskies.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Rylie Hartman (Kankakee, Ill./Herscher) and Stewart led off with back-to-back singles before the Sycamore defense stopped the offensive attack.
 
Brister's home run was the lead-off hit in the seventh before a trio of outs ended the inning.
 
Taylor Mackin (Minooka, Ill./Minooka Community) and Stewart combined for eight strikeouts as they issued no walks.  
 
Turner went 2-4 at the plate while Hartman, Stewart, Ramage, Hanna, and Brister added hits for the Huskies.
 
The Huskies continue action at the Blues City Invitational on February 21 as they take on Morehead State and North Carolina A&T. First pitch against Morehead State is slated for 11 a.m.
 
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