Softball | December 8

DeKALB, Ill.— The 2024 season is just over two months away from the Northern Illinois University Huskie Softball squad and 12th-year head coach Christina Sutcliffe has announced the upcoming season.
 
Starting the 2024 campaign with four early season tournaments on Feb. 9, NIU will open Mid-American Conference action on March 15 at Central Michigan.
 
NIU welcomes eight newcomers to the field, six freshman and two transfer athletes. The 2023 Huskies posted the fourth-best GPA by team in the nation, saw Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) earn Third Team All-Region honors from National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), and return two All-MAC honorees in Stewart and Kiley Conner (St. John, Ind./Lake Central).
 
"We have big shoes to fill with the graduation of two all conference seniors in Kelly Walinski and Sam Mallinder. We have worked hard fall and is intentional every day in creating a winning culture," said Sutcliffe.
 
The Huskies open the 2024 season at the UNI Doc Halverson Classic, Feb. 9-11, facing Western Illinois, Omaha, UNI, Butler, and Drake over the three-day tournament.  NIU heads south for the University of South Alabama tournament, Feb. 16-18. The Huskies will face Eastern Kentucky, University of Alabama at Birmingham, South Alabama, and Central Michigan.
 
Opening March at the Western Kentucky tournament, NIU is set to face Southern Illinois, Western Kentucky, and Dayton. Concluding the early season tournament slate, the Huskies travel to the University of Montana and are set to face Holy Cross and Montana on March 8-10 in Missoula, Montana.
 
Mid-American Conference action starts on March 15 and 16 for the Huskies as they are set to compete at Central Michigan University. NIU continues MAC play on the road, taking on Akron on March 22 and 23.

The home opener for the Huskies sees DePaul come to Mary M. Bell Field on March 26, starting a four-game homestand. NIU will host Kent State on March 29 and 30 for a MAC contest. Rounding out a quick home slate, NIU is set to host UIC on April 3 in a non-conference doubleheader.
 
After opening the month of April at home, the Huskies travel to Ohio in a MAC contest on April 6-7. Continuing their road swing, NIU visits Bradley for a midweek non-conference doubleheader on April 10.
 
Four of the next five contests for the Huskies are set to be in DeKalb, as NIU hosts Toledo (April 12-13) and Buffalo (April 20-21). NIU travels to Western Michigan on April 16 for a midweek match-up. The Huskies softball program face their final non-conference opponent in Valparaiso on April 23 as the final regular-season road opponent is Bowling Green on April 26-27.

Ending the season at home, NIU will have five straight games at home with MAC opponents coming to Mary M. Bell Field. The Huskies host Ball State on April 30 before concluding the season with Miami on May 4 and 5.
 
The MAC tournament is set to take place May 8-11, with the top six seeds advancing.
 
"We have a great balance of experience and youth in our leadership who have their goals set on making post season. I couldn't be happier with their progress. Our energy is electric, and I look forward to seeing them compete this Spring," said Sutcliffe. 
 
A full schedule can be found here for the NIU Huskies. Schedule is subject to change and fans should check NIUHuskies.com for the latest game updates, scores, and team news.
 
Need more NIU Huskie Softball? Be sure to follow Huskie Softball on X/Twitter @NIUSoftball and @NIU_Softball on Instagram.
 
--NIU--