AKRON, Ohio—The 2025 Northern Illinois University Huskies softball team saw their season come to a close as they concluded action at the Mid-American Conference (MAC) tournament. The sixth-seeded Huskies fell 7-0 to the second-seeded Bobcats of Ohio University before dropping a 6-4 contest to the fifth-seeded Zips of the University of Akron.
 
The Huskies shutout loss against the Bobcats was their sixth shutout loss this season.
 
Kacie Quick (Bloomington, Ill./Normal West) went 2-for-3 at the plate in the game against Akron while Lia Nance (Oceanside, Calif./Oceanside) went 2-for-2 at the plate.
 
The 2025 Huskies softball squad finishes with a record of 21-29 and went 14-13 in conference action.
 
"I am so incredibly proud of this team and all the progress we have made this season. They have set the standard for the program that we will continue to build upon," said NIU head coach Kathryn Gleason. "I want to thank the seniors. Avery (Carnahan), Kacie (Quick), Bri (Brianna Pechman), and Madison (Mathews) have left their mark on this program and helped us elevate the standards. They will di great things as they move on to the next stage of life."
 
Ohio Recap (NIU 0, Ohio 7)
 
Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) struck out the lead-off batter for Ohio and allowed only a single hit in the first inning against the Bobcats.
 
Katy Ramage (Germantown Hills, Ill./Metamora Township) drew the first walk of the day from Ohio's Skipp Miller before advancing on a sacrifice bunt. Ramage was joined on base by Natalie Miller (Fredonia, Wis./Ozaukee) with the second walk of the day.
 
The Bobcats collected their second hit of the day after Stewart issued a walk to the first batter in the bottom of the second. The Bobcats moved their runners into scoring positions before Stewart and Jenna Turner (Marengo, Ill./Marengo) collected back-to-back outs for the Huskies defense.
 
Ohio struck first on the scoreboard with a solo home run by Brenna Farmer after Alana Powell (Chicago, Ill./Kenwood Academy) collected the first out of the inning. Nance caught a fly-out to left field while Powell fielded a line-out for the final out of the third.
 
Madison Mathews (Yuma, Ariz./Cibola) singled down the right field line for the first Huskie hit of the afternoon to lead-off in the fourth before Ramage reached base via a fielder's choice. Rylie Hartman (Kankakee, Ill./Herscher) singled to left field, sending Ramage to second base with one out in the inning for NIU. Miller reached base on a fielder's choice as Hartman was called out at second to end the fourth inning for NIU.
 
Ohio loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth with two outs before Powell caught the final out of the inning to end the Bobcats at bat.
 
Mathews doubled to right-center field to reach base for the Huskies before seeing Brianna Pechman (West Chicago, Ill./West Chicago Community) pinch run for her. Pechman advanced to third on Ramage's groundout before being left stranded on the bases.
 
Ohio pushed five runs on six hits across in the sixth inning as they took a 7-0 lead over NIU and sent them to the consolation bracket.
 
Akron Recap (NIU 4, Akron 6)  
 
Ramage hit a single to shallow left field to mark the first hit of the game for the Huskies in the second inning. Mirroring her advancement on the bases from the first game, Ramage moved on Hartman's sacrifice bunt. The Akron defense quickly collected the second out before Quick hit a 2 RBI single to center field to score Ramage and Miller. Nance singled up the middle to join before Ally Rodriguez (Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield East) on base. Turner singled to shallow center across the plate as Rodriguez scored the third run of the inning. Stewart drew a walk to load the bases before Mathews grounded out to second base to end the inning.
 
Lily Cassell (LaGrange, Ohio/Keystone) took over pitching duties for the Huskies in the second game and retired the first five batters from Akron. In total, Cassell went 4.1 innings and issued one walk and collected two strikeouts. 
 
The Huskies loaded the bases in the top of the third after drawing a pair of walks and a hit-by-pitch. The Akron defense quickly collected the third out to end the inning and stopped NIU from scoring.
 
Akron pushed two runs across the plate in the third inning on back-to-back singles as they trimmed NIU's lead to one at 3-2. The Zips would tie the game at three on a single to left field with just one out in the inning. Ramage fielding the final out of the inning, going deep in center field to make the play.
 
After Turner flew out to left field to start the fourth inning, Stewart and Mathews recorded back-to-back singles to reach base. Ramage drew the fifth walk of the game to load the bases before Hartman lined out to center field.
 
Akron took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring on double to deep center field. The Zips added to their lead with a triple to right-center field and a single to left field doubling their score to lead 6-3 with one out in the inning. Stewart caught a foul pop-out for the second out before Powell fielded the final out.
 
Powell doubled down the right field line in the seventh inning for the Huskies, marking her seventh double of the season. Quick doubled to deep center field to send Powell across. The Bobcats, who had already collected two outs, saw the first baseman field the final out to end the Huskies season.
 
NIU made the MAC tournament for the first time since 2019 and saw four athletes named to the All-MAC teams.  
 
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