Paige Granath threw a four-hitter, but the NIU softball team still fell to Valparaiso 2-0 on Wednesday.

Despite the outing by Granath, NIU (10-19 overall) was held in check by Valpo pitcher Ashlee Blankenbaker and could muster only two hits. Blankenbaker threw the first shutout of her collegiate career and struck out eight while walking one.

The win broke a five-game losing streak for Valpo (5-13), which lost 10 of its last 12 games.

The only runs of the afternoon were scored in the fourth inning when Valpo’s Beth Adamski and Monica Rowan both singled to put runners on the corners. Then Granath gave up a double to Taylor Callahan, who drove in both runs.

NIU had a chance to put runs on the board the previous inning when it had runners on second and third with two outs, but a strikeout ended the threat.

Granath ended up getting the loss and fell to 1-7 on the season. She also walked three and struck out three.

The trip to northwestern Indiana was supposed to be a doubleheader, but the second game was canceled because of the cold weather.