The long ball had a big effect on NIU softball’s home doubleheader Tuesday versus Loyola.

It changed the first game, added an insurance run in the second game, was a problem for one of NIU’s pitchers and was a first for one Huskies freshman.

With the game scoreless in the second inning, Loyola’s Keilah Williams hit a home run over the left-field fence off of Kathy Dearborn.

In the next inning, with the bases loaded, Dearborn gave up a grand slam to Becky Marx that was hit over the left-field scoreboard and bounced off a tree.

Dearborn has given up seven home runs in just over 60 innings this season. During all of last season, she gave up 12 home runs in 113 innings.

“When you throw strikes, sometimes they get caught, and sometimes they don’t,” NIU coach Donna Martin said. “A couple of her home-run balls have been windblown, and one was in a dome with a short fence. I would rather have them hit it then have us walk them.”

In the second game with the Huskies leading 3-0, freshman Lauren Von Holst hit a deep fly that carried over the left-center field fence to give the Huskies an insurance run. In Game 1, Von Holst got her first hit of her career.

“When I hit it, I actually thought that it was a lot shallower than it was,” Von Holst said.