DeKALB — The softball team failed to secure a win, as it began its season Friday at the Florida Atlantic Tournament in Boca Raton, Florida.

The Huskies’ 0-5 start marked their worst start to a season since their 2010 campaign when they opened the season with six consecutive losses.

“Unfortunately, our team under-performed this weekend,” said Head Coach Christina Sutcliffe. “The important piece is that we learned and got better.”

Friday morning — Ohio State

NIU opened the tournament with a 9-1 loss against the Ohio State University Buckeyes. The Huskies took a lead in the top of the first inning when senior second catcher Bekah Harnish scored off a Buckeyes’ failed pick-off attempt. Unfortunately for the Huskies, it was their lone score of the game.

Ohio State scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 4-1 lead. The Buckeyes extended their lead to seven runs with a four-run home-run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Harnish recorded both of the Huskies’ hits in the game.

Friday afternoon — Boston University

The Huskies returned to action with a 6-2 loss against the Boston University Terriers. NIU took an early 2-0 lead when Harnish scored the opening run of the game in the bottom of the first inning off a failed pick-off attempt by the Terriers. Senior shortstop Alaynie Woollard hit a RBI single later in the first inning, and sophomore catcher Anne Allen scored the run off Woollard’s hit.

NIU failed to score for the remainder of the game. The Terriers cut the Huskies’ two-run advantage in half in the top of the third inning and took the lead in the top of the sixth inning with three additional runs. Boston sealed the victory with a one-run double in the top of the seventh inning.

“Our pitching staff struggled with their control at time.” Sutcliffe said. “Our defense wasn’t able to help our pitchers get off the field at times. We were allowing the opponents too many opportunities.”

Saturday morning — Michigan State

NIU started the second day of the tournament with a 5-3 loss against the Michigan State University Spartans. Michigan State opened the scoring by drawing a walk with the bases loaded.

The Huskies responded when junior outfielder Jenny Van Geertry hit a RBI triple in the top of the second inning. Van Geertry followed her previous plate appearance with another RBI triple in the top of the fourth inning to give NIU a 2-1 lead.

The Spartans scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and reacquired the lead 3-2. Junior outfielder Jessica Rio hit a RBI single in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game at three a piece.

The Huskies failed to score in the top of the seventh, and Michigan State hit a walk-off two-run double in the bottom half of the inning to secure the victory.

Saturday afternoon – Ohio State

NIU lost to Ohio State 10-2 in a rematch against the Buckeyes. The Huskies allowed five unanswered runs in the first two innings of the game before answering with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the second inning.

The runs scored in the second inning ended up being the only runs NIU scored in the game, as Ohio State scored two runs in the top of the third inning, two runs in the top of the sixth inning and one run in the top of the seventh inning to top the Huskies once again.

Sunday – Bethune-Cookman

The Huskies concluded the weekend with a 5-1 loss to the Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats. The Wildcats scored the first run of the contest in the bottom of the second inning. Woollard drilled an RBI triple in the top of the third inning and tied the game 1-1.

Bethune-Cookman responded quickly with a run in the bottom of the third inning and helped its team reclaim the lead. The Wildcats scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth inning on three consecutive at-bats. The loss capped off a tough tournament showing for the Huskies.

“We have a lot of potential among this team,” Sutcliffe said. “It may just take us some time to get our momentum going. We have very talented athletes. They just need to learn how to play together and step up at times.”

NIU will return to action in the College of Charleston Tournament. The Huskies’ first game of the tournament is against the Longwood University Lancers 11:15 a.m. Friday in Charleston, South Carolina.

“We are looking to continue to improve every weekend,” Sutcliffe said. “Hopefully, we can benefit from a tough weekend and bounce back together.”