Falling behind in the count proved to be the story of the day for the NIU softball team.

The Huskies fell 9-1 to DePaul (30-12) Wednesday evening.

NIU (9-21 overall, 3-5 MAC) was held to only two hits in the contest, both of which came from third baseman Krista McPherson. The senior went 2-for-2 at the plate with an RBI.

“We saw so many first strikes today,” NIU head coach Lindsay Chouinard said. “When you’re facing a pitcher and all she wants to do is jump ahead of you, if you’re not going to swing at the first pitch, you’re putting yourself behind the eight ball, and we did that a lot today.”

The Blue Demons jumped on the board in the top of the second inning. After DePaul first baseman Marcy Wilus was hit by a pitch, designated hitter Lauren Frankiewicz drove her in with a liner down the left field line.

DePaul then returned in the third with three more runs. With runners on the corners and no outs, Huskie shortstop Michelle Nendza commited an error and allowed the run to score.

NIU committed four total errors.

“They were routine ground balls that we just needed to come through on,” McPherson said. “There’s no ball that we can’t handle.”

NIU got its lone run in the bottom of the third when McPherson drove in second baseman Dani Thompson.

Huskie starter Taryn Hagemann gave up three earned runs in three innings.

A mid-week non-conference game allows the Huskies to gather their composure before facing MAC opponents. NIU travels to face Bowling Green this weekend and looks to step up its level of play.

“We just need to bring our focus all seven innings and we’ll be fine,” McPherson said. “I know Bowling Green has been struggling a little, but they’re turning it up and so has Toledo, but they’re two teams that we can beat. We just need to come and play our game and play at our level and not at their level.”