DeKALB — Softball could not hold on to either of its early leads in its doubleheader Tuesday against the Ball State University Cardinals.

The Huskies (16-14, 4-4 Mid-American Conference) fell in the first game, 3-2, and lost the second game, 6-4.

Game one — Cardinals 3, NIU 2

The Huskies jumped ahead with two runs in the first inning, but that’s all they could muster.

Sophomore pitcher Alex Frenz (10-5) took the loss, pitching six innings and striking out four Cardinals. She gave up three runs on seven hits.

Junior pitcher Carolyn Wilmes (10-9) went the distance and picked up the victory for Ball State. She gave up two earned runs on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

NIU totaled five hits and left three players on base.

Alaynie Woollard, junior catcher and infielder, singled to center field to score senior infielder Kali Kossakowski and advanced to second base on the throw in the top of the first inning. Freshman utilityman Anne Allen singled to right field to score Woollard.

The Cardinals answered in the bottom of the second inning when sophomore catcher Olivia Huffman hit a two-run home run to center field.

Janae Hogg, freshman infielder and catcher, hit a home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to break the 2-2 tie and give Ball State the winning run.

Game two — Cardinals 6, NIU 4

NIU scored four runs in the top of the second inning behind a grand slam by Bekah Harnish, junior catcher and infielder, but could not hold on to its lead.

The Cardinals tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning when freshman outfielder Hayley Dominique singled to score senior utilityman Amanda Arnett.

Arnett homered in the bottom of the seventh inning to score her and freshman outfielder Tara Morey to win the game for Ball State.

The Huskies had three hits, four walks, seven strikeouts and three errors in the game.

“We aren’t good enough to get out of innings with four, five or six outs in an inning,” said Head Coach Christina Sutcliffe. “Once we do that, we’ll be alright.”

Kossakowski drew two walks and scored a run.

Junior pitcher Keegan Hayes pitched five innings and gave up three runs-none earned-on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

Frenz pitched the next one and 1/3 innings, giving up three runs- two earned-on five hits. She struck out one batter and walked one.

Freshman pitcher Alyssa Rothwell (4-1) went the distance for the Cardinals and picked up the victory. She gave up four runs — none of them earned.

NIU continues its road trip 2 p.m. Friday when it starts a three-game series with the Kent State University Golden Flashes. Saturday’s first game is at noon,and the second game begins at 2 p.m.