DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University softball team continues its Southern swing to start the 2018 season as the Huskies travel to Charleston S.C., for the College of Charleston Cougar Classic Friday through Saturday. 
 
The Huskies start the Cougar Classic against Longwood University at 11:15 a.m. (CT) Friday and face tournament host College of Charleston at 3:45 p.m.  On Saturday, NIU plays against Big East and in-state opponent DePaul at 9 a.m. and Iona at 1:30 p.m.  The Huskies finish the tournament with a rematch with Longwood at 9 a.m. on Sunday.  All times are central. 
 
"We are just excited to get back on the dirt," said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe.  "I think it is key to have the continuation for being able to play and continuing to grow from last week."
 
Senior Alaynie Woollard (New Castle, Ind. / New Castle) and junior Jenny Van Geertry (Mokena, Ill./ Lincoln-Way East) led the way for the Huskies last weekend.  The upperclass tandem started all five games and produced offensively.  Van Geertry hit two RBI triples in the 5-3 setback to Michigan State, while Woollard hit .400 last weekend, drove in two and drew six walks. 
 
"Each of them [Alaynie, Jenny, and Bekah Harnish] had their peak moments during the weekend," said Sutcliffe.  "If we put it all together in the same game, I think it is going to be key for that group right there, and we need to limit our strikeouts."
 
Four pitchers took the circle for the Huskies last weekend. Freshman Mackenzie Bryan (Elwood, Ind./ Elwood) and senior Tara Thacker (Uniontown, Ohio/ North Canton Hoover) saw the most work for the Huskies in the FAU tournament, however Sutcliffe believes that pitching for the College of Charleston Tournament and throughout the whole season will be spread throughout all five pitchers. 
 
"I think we are going to be pitching as community all year," said Sutcliffe.  "Certain matchups are going to work a little differently, and certain matchups are not going to work so well.  We saw some good things out of [Bryan] last weekend, Tara, Keegan, and Alex did a nice job keeping us in games and we get better from there."
 
Live stats for each of the Huskie's games this weekend will be available through StatBroadcast.  Fans can follow the Huskies on Twitter @NIUSoftball, Instagram @niu_softball, Facebook NIU Softball through the College of Charleston Tournament and throughout the 2018 softball season. 
 
-NIU-