DeKALB, Ill.— Despite holding a lead throughout much of the game, the Northern Illinois University Huskies fell 5-4 to the Wildcats of Northwestern University on Tuesday night (April 21).
 
The Huskies (21-13, 14-5 MAC) were held to just six hits in the contest while the NIU pitchers held Northwestern (24-19, 11-7 Big Ten) to nine hits.
 
Lia Nance (Oceanside, Calif./Oceanside) was the only Huskie to have a multi-hit game, going 3-for-3 at the plate.
 
"I just loved how we fought to the end. AP (Alana Powell) came up and hit that crucial triple, and Mia had a great at bat. And Katy had a great at bat," said NIU head coach Kathryn Gleason. "I told them in the end, you fight like that, you're going to win a lot more games. I love their energy and their fight and their no-fear attitude. They just came out and played the game. That's the number 5-6 team in the Big Ten and Emma Raye didn't have a hit. I was just proud of their fight."
 
Jenna Turner (Marengo, Ill./Marengo) reached via an error to lead off the first inning before making her way around the bases. She would score the first run of the game on a defensive error as NIU led 1-0.
 
The NIU defense went 1-2-3 for the first two innings against the Wildcats as Nance's double to center field would score Alana Powell (Chicago, Ill./Kenwood Academy) and Katy Ramage (Germantown Hills, Ill./Metamora Township).
 
The Wildcats got their first hit of the game in the third inning before the Huskie defense collected the final two outs of the inning.
 
Northwestern reached via an error to start the fourth inning before a two-run home run brought the Wildcats within one. A RBI double to center field by Northwestern tied the game as it headed to the bottom of the inning.

NIU loaded the bases with just one out in the bottom of the inning before a Huskie was hit by the pitch to score Nance for the fourth run of the game.
 
It turned into a defensive showcase, with the teams allowing only two hits between them in the fifth and sixth innings.
 
Northwestern led the seventh inning with a single before scoring on an RBI double to tie the game at four. A sacrifice fly scored the fifth run before the NIU defense collected the final pair of outs.
 
Powell tripled down the left field line before the Wildcats collected the final two outs to hand NIU the home loss.
 
The Huskies return to action on April 24-25 as they travel to Western Michigan for a three-game series. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. on April 24 in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
 
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