A no-hitter is good enough for a win, right?

Wrong. Iowa held the NIU softball team hitless in game two of a doubleheader Tuesday, but came away the loser. The Huskies split the two-game set by capturing a 1-0 win in the nightcap.

With runners on first and third and two outs in the fifth, an error by Iowa’s shortstop on a throw from its catcher allowed NIU’s Jenny Leahy to reach homeplate. Leahy pinch-ran for the Huskies’ Lisa Gilfoy, who reached first base with a bunt. The bunt was ruled an error, however, keeping the Iowa no-hitter alive.

That was all the NIU offense needed in game two to capture its 11th win of the season. However, the 3-2 loss in game one brings the Huskies’ mark to 11-16-2 on the season.

“The little things paid off for us today,” said Huskie head coach Dee Abrahamson, whose team had been struggling. “They (Iowa) were not happy campers. You throw a no-hitter and you lose. But Jenny (Leahy) did a good job on the base path to score the run.”

Kristin Vandenhouten, who suffered the loss in game one, picked up the save in game two. Rachel Ortiz, who was relieved by Vandenhouten, notched the win for the Huskies in game two by hurling 6 1/3.

“Kristen came in and got the job done,” Abrahamson said. “She said she felt okay (after going the distance in game one) so we put her in the second game.”

Despite the loss, Iowa accumulated six hits in game two, and nine hits in its game-one win over NIU. The Huskies totaled six hits on the day—six in game one and none in the nightcap.

NIU is home April 18 against Illinois State for a doubleheader.