Softball | May 3

DeKALB, Ill.—Completing the regular season at home, the Northern Illinois University Huskies softball program is set to host Miami (OH) for a three-game series starting on May 4. The Huskies will face the No. 21 (Softball America) RedHawks in a doubleheader on May 4, with first pitch at 11 a.m. The teams will conclude the series on May 5 with a single game starting at 12 p.m.
 
Saturday's game (May 4) was originally scheduled for a 1 p.m. start time. Due to impending weather, the game time has been adjusted accordingly.
 
Saturday will feature a home run derby following the second game in partnership with Cal's Angels. Fans can purchase 10 hits for $10 with all proceeds benefiting Cal's Angels.
 
On Sunday (May 5), the Huskies will host Bark in the Park. The first 50 dogs through the gates will receive a pup cup and NIU dog bandana.
 
Prior to the series this weekend, the Huskies hold an 18-31 record and 9-16 in MAC play. The RedHawks of Miami hold an impressive 42-7 record, going 23-1 in the conference.
 
Scouting Miami
 
Miami has two players batting above .400 as Jenna Golembiewski (.417), and Karli Spaid (.403) are two of the top three players in the MAC for batting averages. Spaid leads the nation in home runs this season with 32 while Golembiewski leads the nation in RBIs at 75. Golembiewski leads the team with 65 hits while Spaid leads the team with 67 runs scored and nine stolen bases.
 
The RedHawks have an additional four athletes batting above .350 for a total of 11 athletes batting above .300.
 
In the pitcher's circle for the RedHawks, Addy Jarvis leads the team with a 4.17 ERA and two saves. Jarvis and Madilyn Reeves each have three shutouts while Reeves leads the team with 10 complete games and 108 strikeouts.
 
Looking at the Huskie Stats
 
Four Huskies are batting above .300, led by senior Ellis Erickson (Lutz, Fla./Freedom) at .398. Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East), Jenna Turner (Marengo, Ill./Marengo), and Caitlyn Shumaker (Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine) sit at .336, .310, and .303 respectively.
 
Erickson leads the Huskies with 66 hits, 20 doubles, and nine home runs this season. With a pair of doubles in the series against Ball State (April 30), Erickson moved into a three-way tie for third most doubles in a single season in the Huskie softball record book.
 
In the pitcher's circle for the Huskies, Stewart leads the way with a 2.28 ERA, eight complete games, and 113 strikeouts.
 
In the MAC rankings, Erickson is fourth in batting average, leads the way in home runs, and is sixth in total bases (113). Stewart is second in the MAC for pitching (ERA) and third in the rankings for strikeouts. Shumaker is second in the conference with 25 stolen bases this season, while Turner, Katy Ramage (Germantown Hills, Ill./Metamora Township), and Avery Carnahan (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston) all claim spots in the top-10.