DEKALB, Ill.- The Thundering Herd softball team split a Mid-American Conference doubleheader with Northern Illinois University Friday, losing game one, 2-1 and taking the victory in game two 5-3. The Herd continues to lead the MAC’s East division with a 16-4 mark in the conference.

"We were fortunate to come away with one win today," head coach Shonda Stanton said. "We need to come out and play better tomorrow."

Northern Illinois (17-16, 7-4 MAC) struck first with a single run in the bottom of the first inning. After a Huskie hit and a walk, Kelly Drozd singled to score the first run of the contest.

The Herd (35-12, 16-4) loaded the bases, drawing three walks, but were unable to push a runner across. MU however did get the job done in the third. Sierra Davenport (Tucson, Ariz.) led off with a single and moved to second on a ground out. Marshall’s RBI leader, De’Shaun Drake (Spring Valley, Calif.), added another to her tally when she singled to bring in Davenport and tie the score at one.

Marshall stifled a possible big third inning for the Huskies. After a leadoff double, NIU’s Paige Shemoski singled, but Amanda Williams (Powder Springs, Ga.) rifled a strike to the plate erasing the Huskie runner. Northern went on to load the bases, but Marshall starting pitcher Randi Nielson (Tucson, Ariz.) was able to escape the inning forcing a strikeout and a pair of ground outs.

NIU took the lead once again in when Shelby Bernard doubled in the fourth to push a Huskie across. The Huskies added a little insurance in the fifth inning with a walk and three hits to take a two run lead.

The Herd wasn’t able to put together an offensive attack and fell 3-1 in game one. Davenport, Amanda Williams, Drake and Sara Spenia (Las Vegas, NV) each recorded a single hit as that was all the Herd could muster. Nielson received the loss on the mound, falling to 20-4 overall on the season.

Marshall got things together in the second contest, scoring four runs in the top of the second inning. Leigh Wintter (Acworth, Ga.) started things off with an infield hit and Karri Britt (Huntington, W.Va.) followed with a solid base hit down the left field line. A Spenia bunt was thrown away by the Huskies pitcher, moving Britt to third and allowing Wintter to score. With runners on second and third, Courtney Kacenga (Sierra Vista, Ariz.) knocked a single to left field to score another MU run. Marshall’s leadoff hitter, Jessica Williams (Acworth, Ga.) then walked to load the bases for Davenport who came through with an RBI single to left. Amanda Williams knocked in her 38th RBI of the season with a ground ball to the right side to round out the inning for the Herd with the score 4-0.

Northern Illinois scored a single run in the bottom of the fourth under a bit of controversy. Sarah Chamberlain (Moses Lake, Wash.) sent the Huskies first two batters of the inning down on strikes, but Shemoski recorded NIU’s first hit of the game in the form of a double to put a runner on second base. NIU’s next batter, Kelly Drozd, singled to left field and in an attempt to get the runner at third, MU’s leftfielder, Drake, rifled a throw in to the infield. An inattentive NIU player inadvertently interfered with the play, opening the gate to the Huskie dugout, which made contact with the ball. The ball was ruled dead and both NIU runners were given an extra base, which sent Shemoski home. The Herd retired the next batter after a 15 minute delay to interpret the rules.

The momentum seemed to swing in the favor of the Huskies after that play as they went on to score two in the fifth. The Herd committed three errors in the inning, allowing NIU to within one run at 4-3.

Marshall got things together in the top of the seventh, adding an insurance run. Amanda Williams tripled, Drake walked and Allison Webb (Wayne, W.Va.) laced a single to left field that scored the run. Wintter added another single, but the rally ended with a 5-3 advantage for the Herd. MU’s defense held in the bottom of the seventh and Marshall took the victory in game two.

Chamberlain (6-5) received the win in game two, giving up only three hits and striking out eight batters. Drake came in to earn her first save of the season, allowing no hits in 1.2 innings of work. Marshall pounded out nine hits in the contest with Wintter leading the way going 2-for-4.

The Herd and the Huskies will play the final of the game three series on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.