The softball team split a double header against the Miami RedHawks Friday to open up conference play after only allowing one run on the day.

“Anytime you give up one run in two games you’re doing something right,” said Head Coach Christina Sutcliffe.

Friday game 1 – RedHawks 1, Huskies 0

The Huskies failed to score against the RedHawks in game one as they fell short 1-0. It was a strong outing from senior pitcher Tara Thacker and junior Alex Frenz who only allowed three hits in the game combined.

NIU struggled on offense as they failed to score, only mustering up six hits in the game.

The RedHawks scored in the second inning off of a sacrifice fly, but that would be all the scoring they needed to come out on top.

The Huskies managed to load the bases up two times, but couldn’t score a run to tie the game.

Friday game 2 – Huskies 8, RedHawks 0

After struggling on offense in the first game, the Huskies came out on fire in the second game of the double header. Senior shortstop Alaynie Woollard hit a three-run homer in the first inning. Woolard has hit two homeruns on the season.

“It was awesome,” Woollard said. “We felt relaxed.”

In the second inning, freshman infielder Katie Wingerter was caught stealing to end the side. The Huskies were unable to execute in the second inning after two fly outs and a tag out.

Junior outfielder Jenny Van Geertry was hit by a pitch to leadoff third inning. The Huskies scored three runs in the inning as Woolard reached first on a fielder’s choice bunt. This allowed junior infielder Dominique Greeno to score and Van Geertry to score on an error by the catcher.

The Huskies obtained a 6-0 lead as they scored six total runs in the third inning.

Freshman pitcher MacKenzie Bryan allowed two hits and no runs through the first four innings in route to her first win of the season.

The Huskies scored two more runs in the fifth inning after Woolard drove in junior infielder Sam Schmidt to earn her fifth triple of the season.

This was Bryan’s first collegiate career shutout with five innings of work and four strikeouts.

“The game could’ve went another way, if I didn’t have a strong team behind me,” Bryan said.

The Huskies are back in action for the series finale 1 p.m. Sunday at Mary M. Bell Field in DeKalb.