Softball | February 5

DeKALB, Ill.—The Northern Illinois University Huskies softball team heads to the southwest portion of the country as they begin the 2025 season at the Grand Canyon University Kickoff Classic, February 6-8, 2024.
 
The Huskies will face hosts Grand Canyon in a doubleheader on February 6 with first pitch set for 4:30 p.m. CT. The Huskies will take on Montana at 1 p.m. and Wichita State at 3:30 p.m. on February 7. Concluding their trip, the Huskies take on Colgate at 10 a.m. on February 8.
 
In the Mid-American Conference Preseason Poll, the Huskies were picked to finish eighth.
 
Tournament Preview
 
Grand Canyon is coming off a 50-13 record in 2024. The Antelopes and Huskies are set to meet for the ninth time and first since the 2021 season. The Huskies went 2-3 in 2021 as the teams met twice during March 2021 with all games in Phoenix. In the all-time series, the Huskies and Antelopes are 2-2. Grand Canyon was an NCAA tournament qualifier in 2024.
 
When the Huskies and Grizzlies of Montana meet, it will be the fifth meeting. Montana posted a record of 17-33 in 2024. The Huskies claimed the final meeting in 2024 as they competed at Montana's tournament with Montana taking the first two meetings in that tournament. Katy Ramage (Germantown Hills, Ill./Metamora Township) had a pair of hits while Avery Carnahan (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston) and Brianna Pechman (West Chicago, Ill./West Chicago Community) scored for NIU in the 3-1 win. In the all-time series, the Huskies and Grizzlies are 2-2.
 
Wichita State posted a record of 28-22 in 2024. NIU holds a record of 6-2 against the Shockers in the all-time series. This is the first meeting between the squads since the 2014 season.
 
Concluding action at the GCU Kickoff Classic, the Huskies will be the Raiders of Colgate. Colgate brings a record of 22-28 from last season. NIU and Colgate will meet for only the second time in program history with the Huskies claiming an 8-0 victory in 2001.
 
2024 Statistical Leaders and Honors
 
Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way East), who was second on the team in batting average last year, returns after compiling an average of .344, 28 runs, 45 hits, 12 doubles and seven home runs. Stewart led NIU inside the pitchers' circle with an ERA of 2.54, 25 appearances, eight complete games and two shutouts.

Jenna Turner (Marengo, Ill./Marengo) is the returning hits leader with 49 hits after going .293 average, 23 runs, and 13 RBIs. Ramage rounds out the top returning batters with an average of .281, 34 hits, and 21 runs.
 
Stewart earned NFCA Third-Team All-Region Honors and All-MAC First-Team honors for the Huskies. Alana Powell (Chicago, Ill./Kenwood Academy) was named to the All-MAC Freshman team.
 
Six of the eleven Huskies to earn Academic All-MAC honors return with four of the five CSC Academic All-District honorees returning as well.
 
In the 2024 season, the Huskies posted a record of 18-24.
 
New Staff
 
The Huskies are under new direction with Kathryn Gleason taking the helm of the program over the summer. Gleason is nearing the 250-win mark in her career with over 170 wins coming at Northern Kentucky.

In January 2025, Gleason added Emma Summers as a pitching coach, rounding out the staff. Summers joins the Huskies after playing for Belmont University and notched 24 wins in her career with 145 strikeouts.
 
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