DeKALB | The Huskies maintained a .500 record after splitting a doubleheader against non-conference rival Western Illinois Tuesday afternoon at McKee Stadium.

NIU (21-21, 10-4 MAC) began the day with a run in the opening inning, but quickly fell behind to the Leathernecks’ (17-22, 12-9 Summit) offensive efforts.

Creating only four hits, the Huskies fell to Western Illinois 11-1 by implementation of the mercy rule after the fifth inning.

“We didn’t do anything well in the first game,” NIU head coach Lindsay Chouinard said. “We didn’t pitch well. We didn’t execute timely hitting early on in the game when we had a lot of opportunities, and we didn’t come up with any big plays defensively. If you don’t have any of those things going for you, you don’t win the game.”

The Huskies lone run came in the first inning on a passed ball, allowing Stephanie Tofft to score from third base.

Freshman Nicole Gremillion (6-4) took the loss, giving up seven runs on eight hits and two strikeouts in three innings of work. Whitney Owens came in for the fourth inning and allowed four runs on three hits.

Game two provided a different outcome for the Huskies, after jumping out to a 3-2 lead at the end of the first inning. The Huskies scored in six of the seven innings to take the second game 10-7.

“In the second game we came out, scored runs early and supported our pitcher,” Chouinard said.

Tofft led the Huskies offensively and defensively, extending her hitting streak to 32 games, going 4-for-5 with three runs and an RBI. Tofft (2-1) also took the mound for the Huskies, pitching the distance while giving up seven runs on nine hits and striking out two batters.

“Steph did a good job after the first inning of settling in and giving us a good batch of innings in the middle of the game and letting our offense produce and kind of grab the momentum and run with it,” Chouinard said.

The Huskies were again without junior Morgan Bittner, who has led NIU from the mound throughout much of her career. Bittner’s last outing was six games ago on Mar. 17, when she earned a save in one inning of work against Akron.

“We’re hoping to see her later this week,” Chouinard said. “We just want to get her some rest and make sure she is feeling good.”