The bad thing for the NIU softball team is its loss. The good thing is, it didn’t affect its standing in the MAC.

On Tuesday, Illinois State came to DeKalb with a 33-12 record and not having played in six days. But the Redbirds didn’t show signs of rust in their 7-0 win over NIU (20-24).

Huskies pitcher Taryn Hagemann gave up all seven ISU runs on 10 hits before senior Paige Granath came on to pitch hitless sixth and seventh innings.

However, the sophomore said she felt good about her outing.

“I was hitting my spots well,” Hagemann said. “They were real aggressive, but I pitched better than last weekend.”

NIU coach Donna Martin said despite the first inning, Hagemann did in fact pitch a good game.

“It’s the hardest she’s thrown in two weeks,” Martin said. “She settled down after the first inning. There were some bloop hits, but outside of the first inning she threw really well.”

ISU scored in four of the first five innings, putting up two runs in the first, third and fifth innings while scoring one in the fourth.

Catcher Casey Gorrell, first baseman Katie Guilbault, designated player Amber Smith and second baseman Tiffany Pager led the way for the ISU offense. All four went 2 for 3 and combined for three runs and four RBIs.

On offense for NIU, junior Kelly Park and freshmen Randi Kreiter and Ashley Clement came together for NIU’s three hits.

ISU hurler Stacy Birk held NIU in check going seven innings and striking out four while walking one.

“Defensively, this wasn’t one of our better days,” Martin said. “We had double-play opportunities we didn’t get, but they scored on a lot of two out hits and bloopers. I don’t want to say that we weren’t, but [ISU] was hungry today.”