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Danielle Stewart
Scott Walstrom, NIU
11
Winner NIU NIU 1-2
3
Montana UM 1-1
Winner
NIU NIU
1-2
11
Final
3
Montana UM
1-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
NIU NIU 4 0 1 4 2 11 11 1
Montana UM 2 1 0 0 0 3 7 5

W: Carlson , Madison (1-0) L: Ortega, Cameryn (0-1)

4
NIU NIU 1-3
10
Winner Wichita State WSU 1-0
NIU NIU
1-3
4
Final
10
Wichita State WSU
1-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
NIU NIU 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 4 8 2
Wichita State WSU 3 0 1 2 4 0 X 10 10 0

W: Aguilar, Alex (1-0) L: Cassell, Lily (0-2)

Game Recap: Softball |

Hot Bats Split Action in Arizona

Gleason Records First Win as Huskies Head Coach

PHOENIX—The Northern Illinois University Huskies softball program (1-3) split action today at the GCU Kickoff Classic, taking on the Montana Grizzlies (1-1) and the Wichita State Shockers (1-0). The Huskies defeated Montana 11-3 in five innings before dropping a 10-4 game to the Shockers.  
 
Jenna Turner (Marengo, Ill./Marengo) went 2-of-2 against Montana, scoring a pair of runs for the Huskies. Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way East) and Madison Mathews (Yuma, Ariz./Cibola) recorded a pair of runs as the trio accounted for six of the 11 Huskie runs.
 
NIU head coach Kathryn Gleason marked her first win at the helm of the Huskies as NIU defeated Montana in the first game.
 
Turner led the Huskies against the Shockers, going 3-of-4 at the plate and adding a run and stolen base.
 
"We learned a lot today as a team. We went up in the first game and our opponent responded. We were able to comeback and put some runs on the board," said Gleason. "In the second game, we were behind and then took the lead briefly. We are learning in our identity and who we are going to be. A lot of good things today (and) great to get the first win."
 
Montana Recap
 
Stewart hit the first home run of the season for NIU, mirroring the start of the 2024 season. Stewart hit a 3-run home run to left center field to bring home Turner and Alana Powell (Chicago, Ill./Kenwood Academy). Rylie Hartman (Kankakee, Ill./Herscher) scored the fourth run of the day for NIU as NIU took a 4-0 lead in the top of the first.
 
The Grizzlies added a pair of runs in the bottom of the first before tacking on a third in the second inning to cut into NIU's lead.
 
Mathews added the fifth run for NIU in the third inning. Mia Morera (Simi Valley, Calif./Westlake) scored the sixth run of the game in the fourth inning before Mathews hit a two-run home run to left field to bring home Stewart. Katy Ramage (Germantown Hills, Ill./Metamora Township) added the ninth run of the game in the fourth, scoring on an error by the Montana defense as NIU led 9-3.
 
Stewart added to her day with an RBI single to right field as Brianna Pechman (West Chicago, Ill./West Chicago Community) scored for the Huskies. Turner added the final run of the game for NIU, scoring on Mathews' RBI single to left field.
 
The Huskie defense shutdown the Grizzlies in the final three innings, allowing just two hits in the third inning.
 
Wichita State Recap
 
Wichita State got on the board first with a pair of home runs in the first inning to take a 3-0 lead over the Huskies.
 
In the third inning, Jones Estrada and Turner reached base on singles before Stewart brought them home on a 2 RBI single for the Huskies first runs of the game. Following a single by Mathews, Ramage hit her first triple of the game to bring Mathews and Pechman home as the Huskies took a 4-3 lead in the third.
 
Wichita State tied the game up at four in the bottom of the third, scoring on a sacrifice fly. The Shockers regained the lead on a two-run home run in the fourth inning, leading the Huskies 6-4.
 
The Shockers had a pair of two-run home runs in the fifth inning as they extended their lead to six at 10-4. The Shockers defense held the Huskie to two hits in the final four innings of the game as they posted a 10-4 win.
 
Huskie Highlights
  • In Turner's first two at bats of the Montana game, she recorded a stolen base both times. Powell added a third stolen base as the Huskies recorded a trio early.
  • Hailey Olivera (Oxnard, Calif/Rio Mesa) made her debut for the Huskies against Montana, coming in to pinch run for Stewart late in the game.
  • Stewart led the Huskies with 4 RBIs in the first game, matching her career-best against DePaul and Bradley.
  • Against Montana, Stewart recorded a pair of strikeouts for the Huskies in the first inning as Turner had two of the first three hits for the Huskies.
  • Turner was the lone Huskie to record back-to-back multi-hit games today, going 5-of-6 on the day.
  • Natalie Miller (Fredonia, Wis./Ozaukee) made her debut for the Huskies against Wichita State.
The Huskies conclude action in Arizona as they take on Colgate on February 8. First pitch is set for 10 a.m. CT.
 
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