Softball | March 28

DeKALB, Ill.—Continuing a six-game homestand, the Northern Illinois University Huskies softball program will host the Kent State Golden Flashes for a three-game series, March 29-30 at Mary M. Bell field. Admission to all three games is free. 
 
The Huskies (7-19, 1-5 MAC) and Golden Flashes (17-8, 3-0 MAC) will have first pitch at 3 p.m. on March 29 for Greek and Campus Club Day. The first 25 fans to the park will receive a complimentary t-shirt.
 
Saturday, March 30 will feature a doubleheader between the squads, starting at 1 p.m. on Kid's Day. Fans are invited to stay after the game on March 30 for post-game autographs with the team. Additionally, there will be a running of the bases following the second game of the doubleheader for children aged 13 and younger.
 
Previewing Kent State
 
The Golden Flashes enter this weekend's series on a ten-game winning streak. Savannah Wing leads the Golden Flashes with a batting average of .411. Six members of the Golden Flashes are batting at .300 or above.
 
Alexandria Whitmore leads the Golden Flashes with 34 hits and 10 stolen bases. In the pitchers' circle, Macy Irelan leads the team with an ERA of 1.97 and 92 strikeouts for the season.
 
The Huskies won two of the three-game series last season, with a sweep of action on April 8, 2023. The Huskies hold a 33-31 series record against the Golden Flashes, with a 15-17 record at home.
 
Huskie Notes
 
With her second stolen base on March 15 against Central Michigan, Caitlyn Shumaker (Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine) tied the NIU school record for all-time stolen bases record. Her next stolen base will set a record for the NIU softball program. The record was set from 1997-2000 by Jill Carpenter and stands at 59.
 
Ellis Erickson (Lutz, Fla./Freedom) has had six consecutive games with a hit with four of her last six games having multiple hits. Erickson leads the Huskies with 33 hits this season and a batting average of .398.
 
In the pitchers' circle for the Huskies, Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) leads the Huskies with an ERA of 2.60 and 56 strikeouts.
 
Erickson and Katy Ramage (Germantown Hills, Ill./Metamora Township) lead the Huskies with 15 and 14 runs respectively. Erickson leads the team in home runs (4) and doubles (10) while Shumaker leads the team with 12 stolen bases.
 
The Huskies lead the MAC in stolen bases with 63 bases this season. Erickson is No. 8 in the MAC for hitting and No. 3 against MAC-only opponents. Shumaker is No. 3 in the MAC for stolen bases.