Spring break is traditionally a time for rest and relaxation. For the NIU softball team, it was anything but.

It started off on the right foot as the Huskies beat St. Louis 5-1 in their first of eight spring break games.

NIU got a strong outing from pitcher Kate Greenough, who gave up just one unearned run.

Offensively, senior Michelle Nendza provided the fireworks for the Huskies, going 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a pair of RBIs.

The third baseman kept up the strong hitting in the second game. This time it came in the form of a two-run shot, but it was not enough for the Huskies, who fell 3-2. Nendza is now hitting .474 for NIU and has five home runs and 13 RBIs.

That loss was the first of seven in a row for NIU, which finished the trip 1-7. NIU’s losses came against Oregon, Portland State, Washington and Oregon State. The games against Washington and Oregon State were shortened due to weather.

A pair of games scheduled against Illinois State had to be postponed due to inclimate weather. There is no date yet for when they will be rescheduled.

NIU is now 5-9 on the season.