NIU’s softball team continued its strong MAC play this weekend.

The Huskies (20-20 overall, 10-4 MAC) went 2-1 on the weekend. They beat Bowling Green in their only game against them on Friday, 4-3, and they split their series with Toledo, losing on Saturday 7-6 and winning on Sunday 13-4.

NIU was supposed to play a second game against Bowling Green, but the game was called in the fifth inning due to weather and will not count in the standings.

Freshman Stephanie Tofft extended her school-record hitting streak to 30 games on Sunday with a single to left-center in the fourth inning. Tofft had a great weekend for the Huskies at the plate, and she stepped up on the mound as well.

In the fifth inning against Bowling Green, with the score tied 3-3, Tofft came up big and hit the game-winning home run to make the score 4-3.

Tofft also pitched three scoreless innings for the Huskies against Bowling Green, giving up only one hit and striking out three, picking up her first collegiate win.

“Stephanie has done a great job stepping up for us this year,” said head coach Lindsay Chouinard. “She will do anything to help out the team, and she really stepped up big on the mound for us.”

In the first game against Toledo, the Huskies could not get the big hit when they needed it.

With two outs in the seventh, Toledo had the lead 7-6. The Huskies had the bases loaded and junior Dani Parrish grounded out to end the game.

The Huskies had left the bases loaded in both the sixth and seventh inning and just couldn’t get the timely hit.

“We left 11 runners on base in that game,” Chouinard said. “We had plenty of opportunities to score runs, but we just didn’t take advantage of them and get the big hit.”

In the second game against Toledo, NIU broke out the offense and won 13-4.

Sophomore Amanda Sheppard had a huge day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with four RBIs, most coming on a three run homer in the second inning.

Sophomore Jennifer Barnett and senior Andrea Colosimo also had big days at the plate. Barnett went 2-for-4, while Colosimo went 3-for-4 at the plate, each with three RBIs.

The Huskies are now back to .500 on the year, but not satisfied.

“We are glad to be back to .500,” Chouinard said. “But we would love to be over .500. We feel that that is well within our reach.”