DeKALB | The NIU softball team fell twice in its doubleheader versus DePaul on Saturday by scores of 5-0 and 6-3.

Outfielder Jenna Roberts and second basemen Bailey Ouellette led the Huskies offensively in both games.

“They are seniors who worked really hard all summer and their hard work is paying off,” said NIU head coach Lindsay Chouinard, a three-time All-American in her playing days at DePaul.

The Huskies entered the weekend coming off of a solid performance at the State of Illinois Tournament last week. The Huskies defeated Western Illinois and Heartland Community College, before falling on day two to Illinois State and the University of Illinois-Chicago.

The team faced a tough opponent in DePaul, who Chouinard said has been a top 20 team for about the past decade.

In game two the Huskies were tied with the Blue Demons 3-3 heading into the sixth inning before DePaul pulled away.

“It’s a work in progress, it’s getting there,” Chouinard said. “We have a good place to start from and its time to get to work.”

The doubleheader against the Blue Demons was a make up from two weeks ago when the Huskies had three of their games rained out. The team also wrapped up its fall schedule with the losses.

NIU will kick off its regular season on Feb. 20 in Houston against Prarie View A&M.