Sixteen hasn’t been so sweet for the NIU softball team.

The Huskies continued their losing streak with a 4-3 loss to Loyola University on Tuesday. The streak now stands at 16 losses, marking the longest in NIU history.

NIU (5-18 overall, 0-4 MAC) was scheduled to play a double-header at Loyola (11-15, 5-3), but the teams only finished one game. The second game was canceled due to heavy rainfall and bad field conditions.

But, before the rainfall in Chicago, the Ramblers were able to grab a win over the Huskies in the first game. Both teams pounded out five hits, but Loyola was able to knock in one more run than NIU.

“The first inning killed us. We had an error and we were just a little off,” third baseman Krista McPherson said. “They got three runs the first inning and that hurt us.”

As the lead-off hitter, McPherson tallied three of the Huskies’ five hits and went 3-4. However, with the rest of the team struggling at the plate, McPherson only made it around the bases once.

“We are all confident that we can score and get those runs back,” McPherson said. “After that first inning, our defense was solid and we were getting people on base. We just weren’t able to get that key hit and get people in.”

Though McPherson started with a bang, the Huskies couldn’t find themselves in sync offensively. NIU lacked timely hitting, and was unable to bring in runs, despite getting girls on base.

“The role of the top of our lineup is to get on base, and they have been doing that really well,” said NIU head coach Lindsey Chouinard. “But it’s time for our 3, 4, and 5 hitters to step up and make things happen.”

Pitcher Kate Greenough was glad to see her teammates making contact with the ball, and hopes to see continuous improvement from the team.

“We don’t really think about being on a losing streak,” Greenough said. “We think about getting better. These last couple of games we have really showed a lot more than we did. It’s nice to see that we are growing as a team.”

The sophomore and her team will be able to show their improvement today, as the Huskies take on Western Illinois University in a doubleheader at Mary M. Bell Field in DeKalb. The first game starts at 3 p.m., with the second game following at 5 p.m. The doubleheader marks the first games in DeKalb this season.

“We need to play tough defense and keep doing what we are doing,” Greenough said. “Eventually our defense is going to hold a team to no runs and we are going to score, and we are going to win.”

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