DeKALB, Ill. – The Toledo softball team opened its final road series of the season with a split of its doubleheader vs. Northern Illinois on Friday at Mary M. Bell Field. The Rockets exploded in a 14-4 victory during game one, but fell just short, 9-8, in the night cap.

Sophomore Lauren Erickson and senior Dayna Denner swung big bats for the Rockets in both games. Erickson had three hits including a double and two home runs, to put her at six homers on the year, and recorded a team-high six RBIs in the opening game. Denner had four hits, including two home runs to give nine on the season, and six RBIs on the day.  Senior Anna Dixon also had six hits with one double and one RBI.

Freshman Ellie Price picked up her first win of the season in game one, pitching 4.0 innings. 

Toledo and Northern Illinois will finish out the series tomorrow with the first pitch scheduled for noon.

How it happened
GAME 1 – Toledo 14, NIU 4

• Senior Dayna Denner hit a two-run homer, her eighth on the year, to put Toledo on the board in the third. Sophomore Lauren Erickson followed with a solo shot, her fifth of the season, to extend the lead to 3-0.
• In NIU's first inning, Katie Keller cut the deficit to 3-2 with a two-run homer to center field.
• UT extended its lead 5-2 in the fifth when senior Aubrey Reed hit an RBI single and sophomore Lexi Eckman reached home on an error.
• The Huskies scored twice in the fifth on an RBI single and a sac fly.
• Toledo scored three in the sixth on an RBI single form Denner, followed by a two-run double from Erickson to make it an 8-4 ballgame.
• The Rockets tacked on six runs in the seventh on a double from freshman Maris Barbato, a single from senior Bri Robeson, a double by senior Anna Dixon, and a three-run bomb to left field by Erickson to make it 14-4.

GAME 2 – NIU 9, TOL 8

• Toledo opened the scoring in the first with a two-run homer by Denner, her second of the afternoon.
• NIU answered in their half of the first with three runs on back-to-back walks and a stolen base.
• The Huskies crossed home once in the second to extend their lead 4-2.
• The Rockets and the Huskies each scored one run off a sac flies in the fourth.
• UT converted one run in the fifth on a bases loaded walk by Aubrey Reed.
• The Huskies rallied for three runs in the fifth to extend their lead to 9-4.
• The Rockets cut the deficit to 9-8 on a two-run double by senior Aleah Marra, an RBI single from sophomore Arika Reed, and bases loaded walk from Denner, but could not rally all the way back.