March 17, 2009
DEKALB, Ill. -After opening the season on the road, the Northern Illinois University softball team begins a seven-game homestand when the Huskies take on Loyola-Chicago Wednesday afternoon at Mary M. Bell Field.
The Huskies (4-14) just wrapped up an 11-game road swing in California. NIU faced two ranked opponents; California and Fresno State, in the Bayer Cropscience Classic hosted by Fresno State, and then took on Pacific, Santa Clara and St. Mary's (Calif.). Northern Illinois scored victories over Providence in the Bayer Cropscience Classic and defeated St. Mary's in the first game of the doubleheader on the last day of the trip.
NIU head coach Lindsay Chouinard is hoping that these early games have prepared her team for remainder of the season.
"That's why you play in adverse situations early in the season," Chouinard said. "That's how you make a team stronger. You hope they're able to deal with it better by the time you get to this part of the season."
"It's all about trying to get better everyday and get some consistency. We spent a lot of time talking about how we're playing, not so much on who we're playing. With that in mind, we will do our due diligence to figure out where we are. It's really about focusing on this team and finding consistency."
Two Huskies that have been playing very well for the Huskies in the early going are Katie Colby (Waukesha, Wis./West) and Andrea Colosimo (Orland Park, Ill./Orland Park). Colby, a senior, has played in 16 of NIU's 18 games, starting five. She leads the Huskies in hitting with a .450 batting average and in on-base percentage (.542). She's 9-for-20 and her seven RBI double last year's total of three.
Colosimo has started all 18 games and is 13-for-46 from the plate, including two home runs, and is batting .283. Her eight RBI this season is one away from her total of last season.
First pitch for the Huskies and Ramblers is set for 3 p.m., with the second game to follow. Fans can follow all the action live via Gametracker at www.niuhuskies.com.
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