To err is human.

And the NIU women’s softball team proved they were just that after Wednesday’s 9-1 ‘slaughter rule’ loss to No. 25 DePaul.

The Huskies made it through only five innings before dropping the contest to NIU head coach Lindsay Chouinard’s alma mater.

In five innings, NIU met resistance on the field, committing four errors and allowing the Blue Demons to score nine runs on eight hits.

Out of the team’s four errors, shortstop Michelle Nendza took the blame for three. The senior had troubles on the field, but said her teammates helped talk her through her play.

“They talked to me and tried to pick me up,” Nendza said. “I don’t know what happened. But we all try to pick each other up.”

Nendza said the weather conditions played a part in the way she had to field the ball.

Not only was the wind whipping around the field, but the senior said the ground had extra bounce to it.

“One of the errors was me,” Nendza said. “The other two took bad bounces. The ground has gotten really hard over the past few days so the balls were bouncing weird.”

NIU needs to regain its focus moving forward, Chouinard said.

“It just wasn’t Michelle’s best day, but, I mean, everyone has those,” Chouinard said. “What I need her to do is refocus and make it happen against the MAC teams.”

Along with Nendza’s errors, relief pitcher Joreigh Landers also tallied a mistake. The freshman fielded a bunt, only to overthrow first base.

Huskies third baseman Krista McPherson said the team just needs to focus harder defensively.

“There were ground balls that we needed to come through and field,” McPherson said. “There is no ball we can’t handle. We just need to focus in on every pitch and field the ball.”

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