On a four-game winning streak, the NIU softball team now owns the best overall record in the MAC at 15-9.

The Huskies took their step up in the standings after sweeping a doubleheader Tuesday at Loyola with scores of 5-1 and 9-2.

Tied 1-1 in the first game, first baseman Toni Del Toro smashed a two-out home run in the sixth.

Freshman Michelle Nendza notched another two-run round-tripper in the seventh as NIU won 5-1.

“Michelle really stepped up big for us when we needed her today,” NIU coach Donna Martin said. “She did the same exact thing against Georgia Tech a couple weeks ago. Just add her name to the list. We’ve got someone different stepping up every day.”

Nendza started at third base in place of Harper College transfer Ellen Stoddard. The reigning MAC Player of the Week was batting .408 and had collected 16 RBI’s heading into Loyola.

NIU pitcher Lindsey LaChiana said Stoddard was resting because of soreness in her knees but expects her to play on Saturday against Bowling Green.

LaChiana, who transferred from Loyola last fall, struck out five batters in 2 2/3 innings of relief for her 10th win of the season.

Freshman Taryn Hagemann registered the win from the mound for NIU in the second game.

Hagemann went four innings and gave up the only two runs Loyola would score.

Tied at one in the second game, Loyola took a 2-1 lead in the third inning before NIU’s offense prepared for takeoff.

Nendza blasted her second home run of the day to knot the game at two in the top of the fourth inning.

The Huskies went on to score five more runs in that inning amidst three Loyola fielding errors in their 9-2 win.

“We did a good job of taking advantage of some of [Loyola’s] mistakes in that fourth inning,” Martin said. “When we put the ball in play, our speed can make a big difference.”