Despite scoring 17 runs its last two games, the NIU softball team could not overcome Iowa’s power pitching duo and dropped an 8-2 decision Wednesday afternoon at home.

The Huskies (18-12) began the scoring in the first inning when first baseman Toni Del Toro hit a two-run home run to deep center field. The home run was her fourth in the last three games.

“I’m just seeing the ball real well,” Del Toro said. “I got some confidence right now. I’m just making contact and it just happens to get over the fence. I don’t try to hit home runs.”

After Del Toro’s home run, Iowa starting pitcher Ali Arnold settled down and struck out six over in innings while scattering five hits.

NIU was without its leading hitter Ellen Stoddard, who started at third base but left the game after being struck by a line drive in the first inning.

To protect against a Huskie rally, Arnold was relieved in the fifth by senior Lisa Birocci. Birocci surrendered one hit and struck out seven in the final three innings to become Iowa’s career leader in strikeouts with 818.

“It’s very difficult. It’s like bringing in a closer,” NIU coach Donna Martin said of Birocci’s fastball, which has frequently overpowered Huskie batters.

The first five hitters in the lineup for Iowa (29-8) also victimized NIU by combining to go 10-for-20 with six RBIs.

“We didn’t have the pitching performance we had last year against them,” Martin said. “And the top of their lineup made good on every mistake we made in the field and pitching-wise.”

Designated player Kylie Murray gave Iowa the lead with a two-run single in the third inning off NIU starting pitcher Kathy Dearborn. Trailing 3-2 entering the fifth inning, Dearborn was pulled in favor of junior Paige Granath.

But after pitching a complete-game shutout against Valparaiso on Tuesday, Granath only got one out and served up a three-run homer to Iowa catcher Emily Nichols.

“It just took us a little while to get started,” Iowa coach Gayle Blevins said. “We haven’t been a very fast starting team. NIU got two runs on the board real quick. I’m not sure, we’re still trying to find out why we struggle in the first few innings.”

Iowa added two more runs in the sixth off junior Lindsey LaChiana thanks to Nichols’ second home run of the game.

“They got the momentum, but we didn’t do anything to stop it,” Del Toro said. “We didn’t chip away at it. We just need to stay positive and keep our heads up because there are going to be opportunities for us to score every game.”