Softball | April 6

BEREA, Ohio. – The Northern Illinois University softball team plays a three-game road series with Kent State this weekend.

WHEN AND WHERE
The two teams will play a single game tomorrow (April 7) at 2 p.m. CT and a doubleheader Saturday (April 8) with start times at noon and 2 p.m. CT.

Due to Kent State's home field being under renovation, the three games will be played at the BW Softball Field in Berea, Ohio, on the campus of Baldwin Wallace.    

HOW TO FOLLOW
Although this weekend's games will not be live streamed, live stats will be available come game time.

THE HISTORY
In a closely contested series that dates to 1981, the Huskies hold a 32-31 edge in all-time meetings with the Golden Flashes.

Last season, Kent State won two-of-three games versus NIU at Mary M. Bell Field. NIU took game two after a five-run bottom of the seventh powered the Huskies to a comeback 6-5 win.

LAST TIME OUT
The Huskies (15-16, 6-5 MAC) are coming off their series with Central Michigan (14-17, 4-4 MAC) at home last weekend. NIU beat CMU 6-5 to open the action but fell 5-3 and 13-2 in the closing doubleheader.

In the Huskies' win, NIU's pitching staff dealt 10 strikeouts, the team's most of the season. Pitcher Lily Cassell led the group, garnering eight Ks, a career-high, in her third win of the season. Claire Norred pitched the top of the seventh inning and earned her second save of 2023.

NIU continues to be one of the fastest team in the nation with 2.71 stolen bases per-game, the seventh-most in D-I softball. Caitlyn Shumaker (20), Courtney James (13), and Ally Rodriguez (12) own the top-three spots in the MAC for most stolen bases. Cara Cruthers (10) and Fiona Crane (10) hold the No. 5/6 spot. 

Four Huskies are batting over .300 thus far in the season: Kelly Walinski (.363), Caitlyn Shumaker (.330), Courtney James (.306), and Sam Mallinder (.305).

The Huskies are ranked No. 145 on the NCAA's Ratings Power Index (RPI), the third-best mark in the MAC behind Miami (No. 94) and Ohio (No. 95).

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Kent State (8-21, 3-4 MAC) enters the weekend after losing both ends of its doubleheader versus Robert Morris (12-15, 2-2 HL) the road.

Bri Despines paces Kent State at the dish, batting .349. She's collected 29 hits , 10 of which went for extra bases, and has driven in 14 runners.

Emily Lippe follows in the batting order and has the fourth-most homers in the league with nine. The pair have combines for 32 walks.

LOOKING AHEAD
NIU returns home this coming Tuesday (April 11) for a mid-week doubleheader versus Valparaiso (4-25, 1-9 MVC). Start times are set for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. at Mary M. Bell Field.

FOLLOW THE HUSKIES
Be sure to follow NIU softball on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to receive the most up-to-date information regarding the Huskies!