There really is no place like home for the NIU softball team.

The Huskies (9-20 overall, 3-5 MAC) started the weekend with a two-game sweep of Buffalo (3-21, 1-5) with scores of 5-3 and 3-2. A walk-off hit by NIU junior Bailey Ouellette capped off Game 2.

The game-winning double bounced off the third-base bag, allowing freshman Joreigh Landers to score from second base.

“They are starting to turn a corner,” NIU head coach Lindsay Chouinard said. “They are starting to understand what we are about and how we’re going to score runs and how we’re going to pitch.”

NIU then split a doubleheader with MAC powerhouse Kent State (27-9, 10-2) on Sunday.

The Huskies won the opening game 2-0, capitalizing on three KSU errors. NIU third baseman Krista McPherson led the Huskie charge in the win, knocking in a run and also scoring a run.

However, NIU’s offense fell flat in the second game, losing 5-0. The loss also marked the second time this season NIU was held hitless.

“The approach was there the first game,” Chouinard said. “Taryn [Hagemann] pitched great both games. But going through the lineup of one of the best teams in the MAC six or seven times and getting everybody out just isn’t realistic.”

Despite the no-hitter, the weekend was successful for the Huskies.

“Three out of four coming off a big losing steak is a good way to come back,” NIU senior Hagemann said. “We made things happen when they needed to and really executed on the other teams’ errors.”

Hagemann was the story of the weekend for NIU. The senior pitched in all four games, winning the first three to fuel the Huskies’ home record to 4-2 on the season.

“Taryn did an amazing job this weekend,” Chouinard said. “She was out there every game, finding a way to get it done.”

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