Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content
Caitlyn Shumaker
Scott Walstrom, NIU
3
Toledo TOLEDO 18-15
8
Winner NIU NIU 11-24
Toledo TOLEDO
18-15
3
Final
8
NIU NIU
11-24
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Toledo TOLEDO 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 3 5 2
NIU NIU 0 1 5 2 0 0 X 8 10 0

W: Stewart, Danielle (6-7) L: KNIGHT, Sophia (12-7)

Game Recap: Softball |

Huskies Hit Season-High Three Home Runs in Victory over Toledo

DeKALB, Ill.—A big third inning led the Northern Illinois University Huskies softball program to an 8-3 victory over the University of Toledo Rockets this afternoon (April 12) at Mary M. Bell Field. With the win, the Huskies move to 11-24 on the season and 4-9 in Mid-American Conference play.
 
The Huskies hit a trio of home runs in the game between the second and fourth innings, the most the Huskies have hit this season.
 
"We played free today and it showed on the field and the scoreboard," said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. "Dee Dee (Stewart) had a great game earlier this week and had another solid game at the plate and in the circle. Our offense was clicking on all cylinders and our defense was solid and the team trusted each other on the field. We're looking forward to a competitive series with Toledo all weekend."
 
Game Recap (NIU 8, Toledo 3)
 
Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) recorded her fourth home run of the season, sending the ball past the center field wall for the first run of the day for the Huskies in the bottom of the second frame.
 
Stewart retired the first six batters for Toledo as she recorded her sixth complete game this season.
 
Toledo answered Stewart's home run in the third, scoring two home runs in the inning to take a 2-1 lead over the Huskies.
 
In the third frame, the Huskies reached back on back-to-back singles before Caitlyn Shumaker (Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine) hit a three-run home run to left field to bring home Ellis Erickson (Lutz, Fla./Freedom) and Cara Cruthers (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin). Stewart, who went 2-for-3 at the plate, tripled to right field and was joined on the base path by Katy Ramage (Germantown Hills, Ill./Metamora Township) as she was hit by the pitch. Avery Carnahan (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston) hit a 2 RBI double to center field, her fifth double of the season, to send Ramage and Stewart across home plate.
 
Madison Mathews (Yuma, Ariz./Cibola) hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning as the Huskies took an 8-2 lead over Toledo.
 
Toledo scored the final run of the game in the top of the sixth on a sacrifice fly out to center field as the Huskies handed the Rockets their straight consecutive loss.
 
Huskie Notes
  • Ellis Erickson (Lutz, Fla./Freedom) marked her fifteenth straight game with a hit, singling in the first inning down the left-field line. Erickson's hit streak dates to March 16, 2024.
  • The Huskies marked their second consecutive game without an error.
  • Stewart, Erickson, Cruthers, and Mathews accounted for eight of the Huskies ten hits in the game.
  • The Huskies accumulated their seventh game of the season with 10 or more hits.
  • Stewart had two strikeouts in the game, issued no walks, and faced 26 batters from Toledo.
 
The Huskies conclude senior weekend and the series against Toledo on April 13 with a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Mary M. Bell field.
 
 
 
Print Friendly Version