May 7, 2009

AKRON, Ohio - The right side of the Northern Illinois University softball team's infield and its standout pitcher were named to the Mid-American Conference's All-MAC Team as voted on by the league's 12 coaches.

First baseman Bailey Ouellette (Beaverton, Ore./Beaverton) and Huskie second baseman Emily Gooding (Lismore, Australia/Lake Land C.C.) were named First-Team All-MAC, while freshman Morgan Bittner (Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach Poly) was named Second-Team All-MAC and was selected to the MAC All-Freshman Team.

"I am very proud of Bailey, Emily and Morgan," NIU head coach Lindsay Chouinard said. "They did a great job of being consistent during the regular season. These honors are well deserved."

Bittner has matured a great deal over the course of the season. She has been named MAC West Pitcher of the Week three times this season, earning the honor the last two weeks. Bittner has posted a 12-19 record with a 4.19 ERA. She's appeared in 36 games, starting 33.

Her 147 strikeouts is the most by a Huskie since Lindsey LaChiana punched out 156 batters in 2005 and is sixth on NIUs all-time list for strikeouts in a single season. She struck out a season-high 12 batters in the first game NIUs doubleheader against Bowling Green, and her 12 victories is the most by an NIU pitcher since Kate Greenough posted 15 wins in 2007. She is the first NIU freshman named to the conference's All Freshman team since Greenough was selected in 2007.

Ouellette earned her second first-team All-MAC selection of her four-year career after turning in her best season since her freshman campaign. She set a career high in triples with two, while tying her career highs in hits with 35 and in home runs with five. Her 23 RBIs leads the Huskies. She was named MAC West Player of the Week earlier this season. She is batting .252 and is slugging .410. She's played very well defensively with a .977 fielding percentage.

Gooding has improved a great deal in her second season at NIU. She's upped her batting average from .181 last year, to .259 this season, going 29-for-112. She has three doubles, two triples and a home run with 17 RBI in 47 games, all career highs.

The Huskies are back in action later this afternoon when NIU takes on Bowling Green in the 2009 MAC Softball Tournament. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. CST.

-NIU-