Softball | March 25

DeKALB, Ill.—Beginning a five-game home stand, the Northern Illinois University Huskies softball team returns to Mary M. Bell Field for games against the Minutewomen of UMass and the UIC Flames.
 
The Huskies (9-9, 3-3 MAC) and Minutewomen (8-17, 1-5 MAC) begin a three-game series on Friday, March 27 with a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. CT. The teams will conclude their conference series on March 28 with a 12 p.m. single game as the Huskies "Strikeout Cancer" in partnership with Northwestern Medicine.
 
NIU will take a brief break from conference action as they are set to welcome the Flames (15-15-1, 4-5 MVC) on March 31 for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
 
The Huskies are coming off a road trip to Ohio where the Bobcats took the series 1-2. Kayla Estrada (Riverside, Calif./Martin Luther King) had a three-run home run in the Huskies lone 3-1 win over the weekend.
 
Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) continues to pace the offense, hitting .481 on the season. Stewart leads the team with 26 hits, 19 runs, seven doubles, and four home runs. Izzi Hanna (Granger, Ind./Penn) continues to make an impact in her debut season, hitting at .420 with 21 hits. Katy Ramage (Germantown Hills, Ill./Metamora Township) has 21 hits, three triples, three home runs, and 15 RBIs this season as she is one of seven players to hit .324 or above.
 
Madison Carlson (South Beloit, Ill./South Beloit) takes charge in the circle for the NIU defense with an ERA of 3.35 and three wins on the season. Carlson has 30 strikeouts, including a career-best seven strikeouts on March 21.
 
UMass has faced Kent State and Toledo in their first two weekends of MAC play. A grand slam in the opening game against Toledo helped lead to the first win in conference play for UMass.
 
Odyssey Torres leads the Minutewomen, hitting .400 at the plate with 24 hits. Brooke Musch is the second player from UMass to hit above .338 and leads the team with 16 runs this season. Hannah Streicher leads the team in the circle with an ERA of 4.81, four wins on the season, and 37 strikeouts.
 
The Flames will take on the Bradley Braves in a three-game series on March 27-28. Cameran Rios leads the team at the plate, batting .354 with 34 hits and 20 runs. Sam Tourtillott leads the team with 23 runs and three home runs while hitting at .345. Siena Stickney is the final Flame above .320 as she has started at 31 games this season with 17 RBIs.
 
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