Softball | May 16

GREENWOOD, Ind. – Three Huskies on the Northern Illinois University softball team have displayed true academic and athletic success this year as senior Sam Mallinder (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North), junior Caitlyn Shumaker (Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine) and senior Kelly Walinski (Worth, Ill./Marist) have been named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team, the organization announced Tuesday.

This is the first time in program history that multiple Huskies have earned the plaudit in a single season. NIU softball's latest honoree was Katie Keller in 2022.

Mallinder carries a 3.70 GPA as a biological sciences major. The second baseman had a stellar final year with the Huskies as she registered 45 hits – including 12 multi-hit games - and 30 RBI in 50 starts. Her three triples tied for most on the team while she went yard on two separate occasions: once versus CMU on April 2 and once against Ohio on April 15. Mallinder ended the 2023 campaign batting .298 at the dish, the third-best mark on the team.  

Shumaker is a business administration major and holds a 3.50 GPA. The junior made her mark on NIU and D-I softball as a whole as she was one of the fastest baserunners in the nation. Shumaker etched a new single season stolen base record at NIU with her 27^th swipe in NIU's road game against Toledo on April 22. She capped the season with 34 steals and averaged .68 per game, the 13^th-most in D-I softball. The starting first baseman had a .301 batting average and garnered 46 hits – including a seven-game hit streak from March 3-12 - and 30 runs in the box.

Walinski owns a near-perfect 3.905 GPA as a pre-physical therapy major as her time as a Huskie comes to an end. The shortstop posted two eight-game hit streaks this season from Feb. 25 – March 11 and April 23-30. Throughout the season, she showcased her offensive prowess, leading the team in multiple categories including batting average (.354), hits (56), RBI (39), total bases (80), slugging percentage (.506), and on-base plus slugging (.901). Remarkably, she was the only Huskie to start all 51 of NIU's games, displaying her durability and commitment to the team.

The 2022-23 Academic All-District® Softball Team, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the diamond and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes softball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

To qualify for the CSC Academic All-District team, a student-athlete must be a starter or an important reserve with at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average and have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's competitions on the year. Freshmen and first-year students (transfers) are not eligible.