Softball has rebounded from a 1-7 start in conference play to the tune of 9-1 in its last 10 conference games.

The Huskies (19-28, 10-8 MAC) upped their conference victory total this weekend, taking three of their four games, including splitting a doubleheader with Akron (21-24, 7-11 MAC) and sweeping a series with Ohio (24-25, 7-11 MAC).

NIU took the first game of the doubleheader against Akron behind a strong pitching performance from sophomore Emily Norton, who threw a complete game shutout, allowing just one hit through seven innings against the Zips.

The game was a pitchers’ duel through three-and-a-half innings, as the Huskies plated a pair in the bottom of the fourth. They followed up with another tally the next inning with an RBI single from senior first baseman Jennifer Barnett, who led the Huskies in the game by going 3-3 with two RBI’s.

NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe believes Norton earned the chance to pitch in both games as she started both.

“If she dominates that first game we’re going to continue to ride her into the second game,” Sutcliffe said. “I was expecting more offense out of our team off of that pitching. We got under a lot of balls; we were popping up a lot.”

The second game of the doubleheader provided much more offense, as Akron jumped ahead early on to take a 3-1 lead in the top of the second inning. The Huskies had plated a run on a wild pitch, but the Zips utilized a Cassie Gleisner double to score two and a single plated Gleisner.

NIU picked up an RBI to make it 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth on an Ashley Kopp sacrifice fly. In the top of the fifth, Norton allowed a lead-off single to Lisa Lash. Sophomore pitcher Jessica Sturm came on in relief of Norton and allowed a bunt single followed by a groundout which advanced runners to second and third. A Jessica Schneider single plated both runners, making the score 5-2.

The Huskies went into the bottom of the seventh still down 5-2 and made a bid to walk off with the series. The Huskies were able to load the bases with an Amanda Sheppard walk after the Zips’ first baseman dropped a pop-up down the right field line to keep her at-bat alive. Shelby Miller came up to the plate representing the winning run. On a deep drive to right center field, it looked as if she had gotten enough to walk off, but the ball fell a few feet short and short hopped to the fence. The double plated two and had runners on second and third. Barnett followed with an RBI groundout to tie the game before Sturm grounded out to send the game to extra innings.

The Zips responded in the top of the eighth with a two-run homer from right fielder Rachael Ratcliffe to make it 7-5, and the Huskies could not respond in the bottom of the frame.

Akron head coach Julie Jones was impressed with her right fielder’s performance in the double-header, including the timing of her play in the second game.

“We have to win now or we’re going to go home early,” Jones said. “Defensively she was outstanding. I haven’t seen her play defense like that all year. She’s been in a slump offensively big time today, I told her all season ‘At the right time you’re going to come through,’ and she did.”

In the Ohio series, Norton turned in another gem in the first game, going the distance and blanking the Bobcats, allowing five hits and striking out five batters. The Huskies were powered to a 2-0 victory with solo home runs by Sheppard and Barnett in the fourth inning, providing the necessary runs to back Norton’s second shutout in as many days.

“I couldn’t pitch the way I did without my team behind me,” Norton said. “To see us kind of settling in and heading into the MAC, it’s amazing.”

In the second game, the Huskies were able to hold on to a 3-2 victory to seal the series and push themselves up in the tournament rankings. Sturm pitched five innings of one hit ball, although the one hit was a home run in the first inning to give the Bobcats an early lead.

The Huskies responded in the bottom of the frame with a Nicole Gremillion solo shot. They also plated runs in the bottom of the third and fifth to put them up 3-1. Norton came on in relief in the sixth inning and gave up a run but got out of the inning and held them scoreless in the seventh to pick up her first save of the season.

“I think that we didn’t have to come from behind this weekend was nice,” Sutcliffe said. “Our defense made some huge plays getting some leadouts. Offensively we did enough to get it done. It’s always nice to see the long ball out of us.”