Softball | April 29

DeKALB, Ill.—After winning four of their last five games, the Northern Illinois University Huskie softball program returns to Mary M. Bell Field for a five-game homestand. The Huskies will host the Cardinals of Ball State University for a doubleheader on April 30, starting at 1 p.m. Admission is free to the games.  
 
Tuesday's (April 30) game will be faculty and staff appreciation day. There will be a ceremonial first pitch thrown by NIU faculty and staff that have been nominated by the Huskies softball team.  
 
The Huskies enter the game with a 17-30 record and an 8-15 record in Mid-American Conference play.
 
Scouting Ball State
 
The Cardinals enter Tuesday's doubleheader with a record of 22-25 overall and a 9-11 Mid-American Conference record. In their last six games, the Cardinals are 2-4, claiming two wins over Akron.
 
At the plate, three Cardinals are batting above .300 on the season. McKayla Timmons leads the team with an average of .388 and is joined by Ashlee Lovett and Haley Wynn at .306 and .300 averages respectively. Timmons leads the team with hits (54), runs (44), and home runs (21) this season.
 
In the pitching circle for the Cardinals, Francys King and Bridie Murphy lead the team with ERAs of 3.54 and 3.63. The duo combined for 135 of the 164 strikeouts for the Cardinals this season.
 
Looking at the Huskie Stats
 
Leading the way for the Huskies at the plate, Ellis Erickson (Lutz, Fla./Freedom) has a batting average of .395, 62 hits, 18 doubles, and eight home runs for the Huskies this season. Erickson is the lone Huskie to start in all 47 games for the Huskies this season. With her batting average, Erickson ranks sixth in the MAC standings and third in the MAC for total hits this season.
 
Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) has a batting average of .339, with 39 hits, 26 RBIs, and seven home runs this season. Rounding out the Huskies batting at .300 or above is Jenna Turner (Marengo, Ill./Marengo), who sits at .309 with 46 hits and 22 runs scored this season.
 
A danger on the bases, Caitlyn Shumaker (Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine) leads the Huskies with 24 stolen bases. Erickson, Turner, Katy Ramage (Germantown Hills, Ill./Metamora Township), and Avery Carnahan (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston) have double-digit stolen bases this season for the Huskies. Shumaker is third in the MAC for stolen bases, while Ramage, Turner, and Carnahan earn spots in the top-10.
 
In the pitching circle, Stewart leads the team with an ERA of 2.27 and 109 strikeouts. Stewart has eight complete games for the Huskies and two of the three shutout victories. Stewart's ERA puts her at No. 2 in the MAC while her 109 strikeouts put her at No. 3 against all MAC pitchers. Stewart has an opponent batting average of .208, which is the third lowest in the MAC.