Softball began its 2016 season over the weekend, going 2-3 at the Florida Atlantic University Tournament in games against Florida A&M University, Florida Atlantic University and the University of Connecticut.

Florida A&M Game 1

NIU controlled most of its first game Friday, holding the Rattlers scoreless for the first three innings and holding a 4-0 lead. Senior catcher Emily Naegele was responsible for three of the team’s first four runs, hitting a triple in the first inning and a two-run home run in the third. She went 3-3 for the game with three RBIs.

The Rattlers outhit the Huskies 10-8 but weren’t able to capitalize as NIU held on for a 6-4 victory.

Sophomore pitcher Keegan Hayes got the start for the Huskies, giving up seven hits and four runs in five innings of work.

She struck out four batters and walked one before sophomore pitcher Tara Thacker took over for the final two innings, picking up her first save of the year.

Florida Atlantic Game 1

The Huskies followed their game against Florida A&M with a tough matchup against Florida Atlantic. The Owls got the game started quickly, scoring five runs on four hits in the first inning. They followed it up with a strong second inning as well, picking up another two runs on two hits to take a 7-0 lead.

NIU had just two hits on the day, struggling to find any rhythm. The team also suffered from three errors, two of them coming in Florida Atlantic’s five-run inning. Thacker got the start for the Huskies in the game, lasting just one inning after giving up seven runs.

University of Connecticut

NIU went scoreless again, dropping a 3-0 contest to UConn. Connecticut led 1-0 for the majority of the game, pushing its lead up to 3-0 after a two-run sixth inning.

Both teams combined for only seven total hits and three total runs, bringing the Huskies to 1-2 for the tournament.

Florida Atlantic Game 2

The Huskies played Florida Atlantic for a second time on Saturday in the first game of a double-header. NIU broke its scoreless streak in the second inning, taking a 2-1 lead after a double from Naegele and a home run from sophomore infielder Alaynie Woollard.

The Owls followed with a four-run third inning, capitalizing on two errors by the Huskies. The inning proved to be game-deciding as NIU failed to score for the rest of the game, leading to a 6-2 win for Florida Atlantic that gave the team its second win over NIU for the weekend.

Florida A&M Game 2

NIU ended the weekend with its best game of the tournament, defeating Florida A&M in a 9-0 blowout. The team’s nine runs were more than they scored in their previous four games combined.

The Huskies got the game started off with an offensive outburst, scoring five runs on two hits, highlighted by a three-run home run from freshman utility player Abby Howlett. Naegele picked up her second home run of the season in the fourth inning on a two-run shot, followed by a solo home run by Woollard. Thacker took the win for NIU, going four innings and giving up no runs on four hits.

The Huskies will have four days to rest after a long weekend. They’ll be back on the field for matchup with Texas State University. First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday in Phoenix.