DeKALB | Having won two out of its first three games this weekend, the weather made chances for a NIU softball game Sunday afternoon doubtful.

Fortunately for the Huskies, the weather cleared up just in time for NIU to light up the scoreboard as they defeated Central Michigan 14-4 at Mary M. Bell Field in the weekend finale.

NIU (13-13, 3-1) jumped out early and often, putting up four runs in the bottom of the first on the Chippewas, (11-13, 1-3) and would only need five innings before the mercy rule came into play.

“This game is a big confidence booster for us,” senior Kelly Park said. “The way we ended should give us momentum. I mean, some days you just really hit it off, and today was definitely one of those days.”

Lead-off hitter Krista McPherson started the game with a single to left field. She would later score on a single by Ellen Stoddard. Stoddard had three hits on the day and three RBIs. Park and Michelle Nendza joined Stoddard with three RBI each.

“Michelle has been getting more consistent lately,” NIU head coach Donna Martin said. “She’s been working hard. Her and Ellen were big all weekend.”

NIU’s star for the weekend was McPherson, who went 8-for-13 batting.

McPherson went 3-for-4 Friday as the Huskies defeated Eastern Michigan (7-15, 1-1) 5-4 in the opening game of a double-header. Freshman Kate Greenough picked up the win pitching seven innings, giving up four earned runs.

The nightcap wasn’t as successful for NIU, as it was held to just one hit, losing 5-0. The Huskies’ lone hit came from McPherson.

On Saturday NIU was battling the elements as well as CMU as light rain made the scoring conditions tough. After giving up a first-inning home run to CMU left fielder Suzie Giroux, Taryn Hagemann settled down on the mound for the Huskies and didn’t give up another run.

Catcher Allie Parker broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning for the Huskies with a ground-out that scored Kate Welsh, who was pinch-running for Randi Kreiter, which gave NIU a 2-1 victory.

“That was a great win for us,” Martin said. “We had to play through a lot of distractions. Taryn really settled down out there.”