­ 

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell softball was unable to build off its momentum from its weekend sweep of Bryant, dropping both games against Northern Illinois Tuesday evening. In game one, Campbell's bats were shut down in the 10-1 defeat. For game two, Campbell scored four in the sixth to tie the game, but Northern Illinois scored one in the top of the eighth for the 5-4 win.

Game one: Campbell 1, Northern Illinois 10

Northern Illinois scored ten times including six in the final two innings, using 14 hits and an error-free effort to claim game one over Campbell 10-1. Campbell was limited to five hits and scored its lone run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Huskies began the scoring in the top of the first inning, getting their first two batters aboard. After a sac bunt from Jenny Van Geertry, Emily Naegele singled to centerfield, allowing Katie Lamich and Kali Kossakowski to score. After the top of the first, Campbell gained the only hit until the top of the third when Northern Illinois scored once more, a Lamich RBI single.

As previous, Campbell was able to gain one hit while the pitching shut down the Northern Illinois offense, until the top of the fifth when Kossakowski hit a solo home run to left field. The Fighting Camels gained two hits in the bottom of the fifth, a pair of singles from Lizabeth McCurry and Katie Baker, but to no avail on the scoreboard.

In the top of the sixth, Campbell surrendered two more runs to trail 6-0. Caitlyn Warren stole second, warranting a throw in attempt to put her out, but the throw when awry which allowed Abby Howlett to score from third base. The next better, Dominique Greeno, singled to left, scoring Warren from second.

A trio of RBI singles and a RBI groundout plated four runs in the top of the seventh for the Huskies, extending to a 10-0 lead. Campbell gained a run back as Katie Baker drew a walk with bases loaded, scoring Madison Herring from third base. A pair of swinging strikeouts ended the rally from the Fighting Camels, dropping the game 10-1.

Katie Baker suffered the loss in 6 1/3 innings of work, allowing eight runs and 11 hits. Alex Frenz earned the win in 6 1/3 innings, yielding one run and five hits.

Game two: Campbell 4, Northern Illinois 5 (F/8)

Campbell recorded four runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at 4-4 and force extra innings, but Northern Illinois recorded one run in the top of the eighth inning and stopped Campbell in the bottom half to claim the 5-4 win.

The teams combined for one hit through the first two innings before the Huskies grabbed the 1-0 lead in the top of the third off a Jordyn Bowen solo home run. Campbell gained runners in scoring position in the bottom half of the inning but a swinging strikeout ended the threat.

Northern Illinois recorded back-to-back home runs, including a two-run shot by Van Geertry, to take a 4-0 lead against Campbell in the top of the sixth inning. The Camels equalized in the bottom of the inning, scoring four runs on only one hit, using a pair of errors to get aboard and advance.

A trio of walks to begin the inning loaded the bases for the Orange and Black. Cierra Harris scored from third base on a wild pitch, which also advanced Christa Hall and Karsen Leonhardt one base. Taesha DuBoise reached first base after a wild throw from the NIU shortstop, which scored both Hall and Leonhardt.

Amber Schisler reached on a single and advanced to second after a throw home from the centerfielder. The next batter, Rachel McCollum, also reached by way of a fielding error on the shortstop, which scored Schisler from second, tying the game at 4-4.

Neither team scored in the seventh inning, forcing the contest to go to extra innings. In the top half of the eighth inning, Northern Illinois had bases loaded with two outs but a fielding error by the shortstop allowed a run to score, giving the visitors a 5-4 lead. The Fighting Camels gained one runner in the bottom half of the inning, but they were unable to score the lone baserunner.

Amber Schisler took the loss in relief effort, pitching one inning. Tara Thacker pitched 2/3 innings, and didn't yield a hit, in her relief effort win.

Campbell returns to action Wednesday against Appalachian State at 4 p.m. for a doubleheader in Boone, N.C.