PHOENIX—Battling on opening day of the 2025 season, the Northern Illinois University Huskies softball program fell in a doubleheader to the Grand Canyon University Antelopes at the GCU Kickoff Classic. The Huskies posted a 5-2 score in the first game before marking a 9-4 score in the second game.
 
Alana Powell (Chicago, Ill./Kenwood Academy) led the Huskies in the first game, going 2-of-3, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored. In total, the Huskies had two runs on four hits and struck out four batters.
 
Madison Mathews (Yuma, Ariz./Cibola) led the Huskies at the plate in the second game of the doubleheader, going 3-of-4, with 2 RBIs and a run scored. Mathews accounted for both of NIU's doubles in the second game as the Huskies scored four runs off nine hits.
 
"We were challenged a lot in both games by a tough team in GCU. I was proud of how we responded in the second game and played our style of softball. I think the first game we weren't as aggressive as we can be at the plate," noted head coach Kathryn Gleason. "Dee Dee (Danielle Stewart) put us in a great spot and Taylor (Mackin) had some great moments in her debut in the first game. Kayla (Estrada) and Madison (Mathews) both came in with big hits and helped us offensively in game two. We had a great crowd and environment to play in, especially with so many of our fans traveling to watch us in a tough tournament."
 
Game One Recap
 
Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way East) got the first hit of the season for the Huskies, singling down the third base line in the first inning. Stewart took over pitching duties for the Huskies and held Grand Canyon scoreless in the first inning.
 
After Stewart and the Huskie defense got a pair of quick outs in the inning, Grand Canyon took an 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning with a three-run home run.
 
Making her debut for the Huskies, Lia Nance (Oceanside, Calif./Oceanside) recorded her first hit for the Huskies in the third inning. Nance scored the first run of the game for the Huskies, rounding the bases on a Powell RBI single to left center field.
 
Powell recorded her second hit of the game, doubling to left field in the sixth inning. The sixth inning would be generous to Powell as she scored the second run of the day for the Huskies.
 
Grand Canyon held the Huskies without a run in the final inning as they took the first game of the opening day doubleheader.
 
Taylor Mackin (Minooka, Ill./Minooka Community) led the Huskies with three strikeouts in the contest. Powell had two of the Huskies four hits, one run, and one RBI.  
 
Game Two Recap
 
Grand Canyon struck first in the second game, scoring a pair of runs in the opening inning and a run in the third inning.
 
After reaching base on a walk, Rylie Hartman (Kankakee, Ill./Herscher) scored the first run of the day on a sacrifice fly in the second inning.
 
The Huskie bats started to heat up in the third inning as the Huskies got three hits in the inning. Jenna Turner (Marengo, Ill./Marengo) scored the second run of the game after recording the first stolen base of the season for NIU. Kayla Estrada (Riverside, Calif./Martin Luther King) hit a 2 RBI single as Katy Ramage (Germantown Hills, Ill./Metamora Township) and Mathews took a 4-3 lead for NIU.
 
Grand Canyon responded to the Huskies three-run inning with 2-run home runs in the third, fourth, and sixth innings as they took a 9-4 lead over the Huskies.  
 
Lily Cassell (LaGrange, Ohio/Keystone) tallied four of NIU's five strikeouts in the contest.
 
Huskie Highlights
 

• Three Huskies had a multi-hit game in the second game of the doubleheader, led by three hits from Mathews. Turner and Estrada had a pair of hits.
• In the first game, Powell was the lone Huskie to record two hits.
• The Huskies had three doubles in the game, with two coming from Mathews in the second game. Powell had the first double of the season in the opening game.
• Five Huskies made their debuts in today's games. Mia Morera (Simi Valley, Calif./Westlake) and Nance made their starting debuts for the Huskies in both games while Mackin made her debut in the first game. Coaches Gleason and Summers also made their debuts for the Huskies.

 
The Huskies return to action on February 7 as they take on Montana and Wichita State at the GCU Kickoff Classic. The Huskies and Grizzlies of Montana are set for first pitch at 1 p.m. CT. and a 3:30 p.m. first pitch against Wichita State.