Softball | March 31
DeKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University softball team returns home this weekend for a three-game series with Central Michigan this Saturday and Sunday.
WHEN AND WHERE
A single game is set for 3 p.m. Saturday (April 1) at Mary M. Bell Field. A doubleheader, with start times of noon and 2 p.m., is scheduled for Sunday (April 2) to close the series.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Each game this weekend will be shown on
NIUTube on NIUHuskies.com, the Huskie all-access channel. Subscriptions are available for purchase on a daily ($6.95), monthly ($10.95) or annual basis and provides access to all home NIU Athletics events streamed on the website for the purchase period.
Come game time,
live stats will be available for all contests as well.
THE HISTORY
In a series that dates to 1982, the Huskies trail 30-50 to the Chippewas in all-time meetings. In 2022, the Huskies took one-of-three games played in Mount Pleasant after
Sam Mallinder propelled NIU to a 7-3 win thanks to a pair RBI doubles in game two.
LAST TIME OUT
The speedy Huskies (14-14, 5-3 MAC), No. 7 in the nation in stolen bases (2.71 per-game), are coming off two road series with Miami and Ball State. The Huskies swept Miami last weekend, but went one-for-three versus Ball State this past Tuesday and Wednesday.
NIU is led at this dish by
Caitlyn Shumaker (Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine), batting .363 with 29 hits this season. She's quick on the base paths as well, leading the league with an impressive 20 stolen bags.
Courtney James (Fishers, Ind./Fishers), No. 2 in the MAC, has 12 thus far.
Utility player
Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) has been instrumental in NIU's successes, leading the team in the circle with a 2.97 ERA. Stewart has a 6-7 mark when the pitcher of record. She's effective in the batter's box as well; she's logged 13 hits and a pair of homers through her 56 at-bats.
She was tabbed this week's MAC Pitcher of the Week after earning a pair of wins, plus a save, in the Huskies' sweep of Miami. Stewart pitched 15.0 innings and two complete games for a low weekend ERA of 2.33. She allowed just nine hits and five runs through her three appearances.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Central Michigan (12-16, 2-3 MAC) enters the weekend after winning its series versus Kent State (8-19, 3-4 MAC) at home. Abbey Tolmie leads the Chippewas' offense with a league-leading 42 hits and a .412 BA.
THE CMU pitching staff has utilized five arms thus far in 2023 with Madelyne Wallace (4-3) leading group. She's accumulated a 3.79 ERA in 35.2 innings of work. Kaitlyn Bean (4-5) has a 3.94 ERA through 64.0 innings.
LOOKING AHEAD
Following this weekend, NIU will hit the road again to face Kent State April 7-8 at the Devine Diamond in Kent, Ohio.
