DeKALB — The NIU softball team lost both five-inning games of a doubleheader against Miami University (Ohio) Friday in their first home series at Mary M. Bell Field in DeKalb.

Miami tallied a combined 18 hits in both games over NIU total of five on the day.

Game one: Miami 12, NIU 2

In the first game of the day, the Huskies were unable to keep up with the RedHawks as they got off to an early 6-1 lead in the second inning.

Senior infielder Katie Keller led the team with two hits, including a double. NIU’s only two scoring opportunities came from RBI doubles batted by Keller and senior designated hitter Bianca Barone in the first and fourth innings, respectively.

Game two: Miami 9, NIU 1

The second game of the day commenced in a similar fashion with Miami accelerating to an early lead.

The Huskies were not able to score until Barone hit a solo home run in the bottom of the third inning, creating a 7-1 score. Besides this one hit, NIU only reached base one other time in the game with a walk drawn by Keller.

“I thought we played good defense,” head softball coach Christina Sutcliffe said in an NIU Athletics news release. “We had a game plan in place and our outfield did well with this wind especially, and our infield made a couple of nice plays. So I just think we needed to have a couple of better at bats and it would’ve been a different result.”

Looking ahead:

The third game of NIU’s series against Miami, originally supposed to take place on Saturday, has been canceled due to weather conditions and will not be rescheduled.

The Huskies will see their next action in a single game at the University of Illinois Chicago on Tuesday. Their next home series will be against the University of Akron April 1 in DeKalb.