Softball | April 19

DeKALB, Ill.—Returning to Mary M. Bell Field, the Northern Illinois University Huskie softball program (12-27, 5-12 MAC) will host the University at Buffalo Bulls (13-24, 5-11 MAC) for a three-game series, April 20-21. The Huskies and Bulls will start the series with a doubleheader on April 20 at 1 p.m. before concluding the series on April 21 at 12 p.m.
 
Saturday's (April 20) game be First Responders Day with a ceremonial first pitch thrown by a local first responder. There will be a post-game autograph session with the 2024 Huskies following the second game.
 
The Huskies will mark Alumnae Day on April 21 as the Huskies will honor alumnae throughout the game. A ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by the family of the late Mary M. Bell as the Huskies celebrate and honor Dr. Bell's legacy.
 
Scouting Buffalo
 
The Bulls sit in ninth place in the place, just one spot ahead of the Huskies.
 
Madison Fernimen leads the Bulls with a batting average of .282 followed by Alexis Lucyshyn at .279. Fernimen, Lucyshyn, and Abbey Nagel lead the Bulls with a combined 95 hits. Mia Mitchell leads the Bulls with 6 home runs for the Bulls and a slugging percentage of .491.
 
In the pitcher's circle for the Bulls, Lucyshyn has a 3.08 ERA, eight wins on the season, and 130 strikeouts for the Bulls.
 
Looking at the Stats
 
Ellis Erickson (Lutz, Fla./Freedom) and Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) lead the Huskies at the plate with averages of .392 and .319 this season. Erickson leads the Huskies with 51 hits, 15 doubles, and seven home runs.
 
Caitlyn Shumaker (Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine) leads the Huskies with 18 stolen bases this season while Katy Ramage (Germantown Hills, Ill./Metamora Township) is 16-for-16 with stolen bases. The Huskies lead the MAC in stolen bases with 94 stolen bases this season.
 
In the circle for the Huskies, Stewart leads with a 2.45 ERA and 86 strikeouts. Stewart is holding her opposing batters to a .228 average this season, the third lowest in the MAC. Stewart is third in the league for ERA and fifth for total strikeouts this season.
 
Erickson is sixth in the MAC for batting average, tied for fourth in hits, and third for doubles. Shumaker is tied for second for triples this season (3) and third for stolen bases while Ramage, Avery Carnahan (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston), and Jenna Turner (Marengo, Ill./Marengo) all claim spots in the top-10 for stolen bases in the conference.