Softball | May 28

DeKALB, Ill.—Five members of Northern Illinois University softball program were named to the College Sports Communications (CSC, formerly CoSIDA) Academic All-District Team.
 
Madison Mathews, Trinity Jones Estrada, Avery Carnahan, Danielle Stewart, and Caitlyn Shumaker represent NIU on the team. Stewart was selected as a CSC Academic All-America finalist who advances to the national ballots of Academic All-America honors.
 
Mathews, a junior infielder from Yuma, Arizona, maintains a 4.0 grade point average in the graduate program for Higher Education and Student Affairs. Mathews saw action in 43 games for the Huskies during the 2024 season, collecting 39 starts for the Huskies. Mathews held a .280 batting average after recorded 30 hits, seven doubles, and seven home runs. Mathews had a pair of home runs in the Huskies win over Ball State on April 30.
 
Jones Estrada, a sophomore catcher/utility player from Sylmar, Calif, maintains a 3.828 GPA in Psychology. Jones Estrada recorded 199 total chances for the Huskies while leading the team with 175 putouts. Jones Estrada tallied 20 hits for the Huskies, three doubles, 11 RBIs as she saw action in 45 games (40 starts) during the 2024 campaign.
 
Carnahan, a junior middle infielder from Johnston Iowa, claims a 3.761 GPA in Business Administration. Carnahan saw action in 47 games for the Huskies (45 starts) and held a .244 batting average for the Huskies. Carnahan had 31 hits, five doubles, and 25 RBIs this season. Carnahan collected 14 stolen bases, landing in the top-10 in the conference standings.
 
Stewart, a sophomore pitcher/utility player from Frankfort, Ill., holds a 3.752 in Health Sciences, Pre-Physical Therapy. Stewart maintained a 2.54 ERA this season, making 25 appearances for the Huskies. Stewart collected eight complete games, two shutout victories, and 117 strikeouts, while holding opponents to a .211 average. Stewart pitched her first no-hitter on April 26 against Bowling Green after hitting her first grand slam on April 10. On the other side of the plate, Stewart maintained a .344 batting average, 45 hits, 28 runs, 12 doubles, six stolen bases, and seven home runs for the Huskies.
 
Shumaker, a senior infielder from Bellefontaine, Ohio, finishes her collegiate career with a 3.619 GPA in Business Administration. Shumaker was named to the Academic All-District team in 2023. Shumaker saw action in 51 games for the Huskies with 51 starts this season, holding a .300 batting average. Shumaker scored 35 runs, 45 hits, and 7 home runs this season. Shumaker broke the NIU school record for career stolen bases on March 30, 2024, with the new record standing at 72.
 
The 2023-24 Academic All-District Softball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the diamond and in the classroom. The Academic All-America teams will be announced on June 18. 
 
In order to be eligible for Academic All-District, student-athletes must compete in 90 percent of the institution's games/contests played or must start in at least 66 percent of the institution's games/contests. For baseball and softball pitchers, it is 17 appearances, or 25 innings pitched.