One run in both games of NIU’s doubleheader against Loyola-Chicago separated the Huskies from victory.

Loyola’s Jenny Rice pitched four of seven innings in the first game, striking out seven and allowing one hit in a 5-4 win over NIU (13-9).

The Huskies took an early 1-0 lead, but Loyola (12-8) put four runs on the board in the bottom half when Becky Marx hit a grand slam off NIU’s Paige Granath to left field.

NIU scored three runs in the top of the third, but was shut out the rest of the way by Rice. Katie Blackmore scored Loyola’s winning run in the bottom half of the fifth on a fielders choice.

NIU took the early lead once again in the second game when Amy Ligmanowski sent her first career home run over the center field wall in the top of the third to give the Huskies an early 1-0 lead.

The Ramblers’ Jenny Rice shut the Huskies out the rest of the way, recording seven strikeouts in a complete game.

Loyola took the lead in the bottom of the fifth for the second straight game to seal the victory.

NIU’s Kathy Dearborn (5-4) went six innings, giving up five hits, walking two and striking out one.

“Kathy pitched well enough to win that second game,” Martin said. “We just didn’t take care of the things we needed to in order to put the game away.”