Softball | April 10

DeKALB, Ill.— Closing out their eight-game homestand, the Northern Illinois University softball team welcomes Kent State and Bradley to Mary M. Bell Field. A three-game Mid-American Conference series between Kent State (17-19, 7-8) and the Huskies (15-11, 9-5 MAC) will take place on April 11 and 12. A doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. on April 11, with the series set to conclude with a noon first pitch on April 12.
 
A midweek doubleheader against Bradley (10-26, 4-10 MVC) is scheduled for April 14, with first pitch set for 4 p.m.
 
The Kent State series is NIU Softball's Alumni Weekend, during which all former Huskies are invited to return to Mary M. Bell Field.
 
The matchup with Bradley will be held as NIU's Salute to Service game, where local first responder vehicles will be on site for fans to enjoy.
 
Series History
 
NIU holds a 38-34 series lead over Kent State heading into this weekend's series. The Huskies the series last season, 2-1.
 
The Huskies came from behind to win 9-8 in the first game of the series. The Huskies took the first game of the scheduled doubleheader, 5-3, before falling in the final game of the series, 9-3.
 
This will be the second meeting between NIU and Bradley this season as the Huskies claimed a 10-5 victory over Bradley at the Blues City Invitational on February 22. NIU took the lone meeting between the schools last year, a 7-6 win in eight innings. In the all-time series, NIU leads 21-14-1.
 
Last Time Out
 
The Huskies swept Ball State in a three-game midweek series on April 7-8. The Huskies took the first game (April 7) in an 8-2 victory. In the doubleheader on April 8, the Huskies took the opening game in five innings (11-1) before a walk-off win in the nightcap (7-6).
 
Kayla Estrada (Riverside, Calif/Martin Luther King) hit a pair of home runs in each of the games for the Huskies as she had a combined four RBI in the doubleheader.
 
This was the first three-game series sweep by the Huskies over Ball State since the 2016 season and second straight sweep for NIU.
 
Checking out the Numbers
 
Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) leads the MAC with a batting average of .494. Stewart leads NIU with five home runs, 39 hits, 11 doubles and 23 runs.
 
Izzi Hanna (Granger, Ind./Penn) and Jenna Turner (Marengo, Ill./Marengo) are hitting above .360 with four more Huskies hitting at .303 or above. Turner has 32 hits for NIU while Estrada is second on the team with four home runs.
 
Madison Carlson (South Beloit, Ill./South Beloit) leads the team with an ERA of 2.48, four complete games, and 43 strikeouts.
 
For Kent State, Ashlyn Porter leads the team, hitting at a clip of .365 at the plate while Aaralyn Nogay is hitting at .336 and leads with 24 stolen bases, 39 hits and 34 runs. Caleigh Shaulis leads the team with nine home runs. In the circle, Riley Miller leads with a 4.95 ERA and 43 strikeouts.
 
For Bradley, Morgan Schlosser leads the team with a .339 batting average as Austin Comstock leads with 38 hits (.330 average). Abby Rusher leads the team with a 6.39 ERA and 64 strikeouts.
 
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