Looking for its third consecutive win, NIU softball took on the UIC Flames in Chicago Wednesday.

The Huskies (18-24, 6-6 MAC) came up short and fell to the Flames 6-1.

“UIC did a great job today,” said NIU coach Lindsay Chouinard. “Their pitchers dominated our hitters, their defense played great and their hitters hit when they needed to.”

NIU struck first in the top of the third inning. With Bryanna Phelan on third and Dani Parrish at first, the Huskies executed their first-and-third play. Phelan was able to steal home, before Parrish was tagged out to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead.

UIC answered back in the bottom of the third inning with two runs of its own. With two outs, the Flames strung together four hits in-a-row.

UIC’s Melissa Preish singled to third base. Melinda Macias followed suit with a single to left field, moving Preish to third base, while Macias advanced to second on the throw to third.

Natalie Hernandez continued the inning with a single to center field, driving in Preish from third base, and advancing Macias to third base to tie the score 1-1.

After Hernandez stole second, Coryn Schmit singled up the middle, scoring Macias from third base, to give the Flames the lead 2-1.

In the top of the sixth inning, NIU got its first hit since the first inning when Nicole Gremillion singled down the left field line. Shelby Miller followed Gremillion with a walk, and the Huskies looked to be in position to score. However, Devin Miller got Amanda Sheppard to strike out and Carly Norton to pop out to the second baseman, ending the Huskies threat.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Flames scored four more runs on four hits to make the score 6-1. The biggest hit came from Kara Komp, who tripled to center field, driving in Jacki Fletcher from third and Jenna Marsalli from second.

UIC’s Ashley Hewett was strong on the mound, going five innings and allowing one run, one hit and five strikeouts. Miller went the last two innings, giving up two hits and striking out three for the Flames.