Despite a pair of late home runs, a lack of run production and defensive lapses proved costly as NIU softball dropped two of three over the weekend to Bowling Green.

The Huskies (16-11 overall, 3-2 MAC) collected only 13 hits over the three-game home series, and the Falcons (12-18, 3-2) took advantage of seven NIU errors to score five unearned runs.

“Offense comes and goes,” NIU coach Donna Martin said. “But you need defense and pitching every day. [The first two games] we didn’t execute bunts like we should have and [Saturday] there was a pretty wide strike zone.”

In Game 1, NIU pitcher Lindsey LaChiana gave up only one earned run but trailed 1-0 entering the sixth. A sacrifice fly by senior center fielder Kelly Drozd tied the game in the bottom of the inning, but an error by NIU senior second baseman Megan Meyer scored the game-winning run in the seventh and gave Bowling Green the 2-1 win.

A fielding error by freshman shortstop Krista McPherson turned into a three-run second inning for the Falcons in Game 2. But sophomore catcher Lauren von Holst struck back with a three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth to clinch a 4-3 victory for NIU.

Fielding mistakes came back to haunt the Huskies again in Game 3. Besides four team errors, NIU defensive woes included a poorly-executed pitchout in the fourth inning resulting in Bowling Green stealing home.

Despite trailing 4-0 in the sixth inning, the Huskies struck back with a three-run home run by sophomore left fielder Kelly Park to draw within one. NIU then left the tying run on second base in the seventh and took the 4-3 loss.

LaChiana took her second loss of the weekend by surrendering three earned runs in 4.1 innings to drop her record to 10-6 on the season.

“I didn’t have my best stuff this weekend,” LaChiana said. “My rise ball wasn’t breaking. I think we just need to relax on defense and not tense up so much, because that’s when we make more errors.”