NIU’s softball team made the most out of one run in Tuesday’s doubleheader against Illinois-Chicago.

The Huskies beat the Flames 1-0 in the first game at Huskie Diamond, but managed only two hits in losing the nightcap 4-0.

NIU coach Dee Abrahamson was not thrilled with the outcome of Tuesday’s doubleheader. “The split was embarrassing to our program,” said Abrahamson, whose squad dropped to 17-18-2.

“Only a couple of our people looked like they were ready to play today. We had a couple injured, but the others had no excuse.”

In the opener, NIU pitcher Kristin Vandenhouten went the full seven innings to earn the shutout. The Huskies gave Vandenhouten all the support she would need with a run in the sixth. Huskie catcher Julie Sexton walked and later scored on a UIC error to break the 0-0 duel between Vandenhouten and Flames’ pitcher Leigh Podlesney.

The Huskies fought off a UIC challenge in the seventh when, with the tying run on second, Flames’ pinch-hitter Lisa Wind flied out to leftfielder Sue Alexander to end the game.

The win moved the Huskies’ record to 17-17-2, but NIU remained at the .500 mark for only as long as it took UIC pitcher Michelle Coleman to dispatch the Huskies in the closer.

The Flames (27-11) pushed across runs in both the first and third innings against NIU starting pitcher Maria Leake, while the Huskies could only manage one hit off of Coleman through the first four innings.

Vandenhouten relieved Leake in the fourth inning as the Flames again managed to connect against Huskie pitching. Before Vandenhouten could put out the Flames’ fire in the inning, UIC had tallied twice to take a 4-0 lead.

The Huskies held UIC to only one more hit in the game, but could not take advantage of six Coleman walks and two UIC errors in the game.

When Coleman wasn’t walking Huskies, she was sending them back to the dugout with another hitless at-bat. Coleman allowed only two hits through the game, and when Huskie designated player Lisa Gilfoy flied out to end the game, the Huskies were once again below the 500 mark.

“To be out-hit by a team we’re clearly better than is an embarrassment,” Abrahamson said. “This is defenitely a learning experience going into the (North Star) conference tournament. We can be home in two games if we play like this again.”

The Huskies now travel to Valparaiso to take part in the North Star Conference Tournament, which starts this Friday.