Softball | April 30

DeKALB, Ill.—Hosting the final weekend of the regular season at Mary M. Bell Field, the Northern Illinois University softball team is set to host the University of Toledo for a three-game series, May 1-2. The Huskies (23-15, 16-6 MAC) will have first pitch against the Rockets (14-33, 10-14 MAC) on May 1 at 3 p.m. with the series concluding in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. on May 2. Admission is free to all NIU Softball games.
 
Prior to Friday's game, a brief graduation ceremony will be held to honor the Huskie graduates as they will be unable to attend commencement exercises next week (May 8-9) due to MAC Tournament play. The NIU softball program will honor the eight seniors prior to the game on Saturday (May 2).
 
NIU last played April 29, closing its non-conference schedule at Iowa. The Huskies lost 10-2 in six innings, getting their runs in the sixth on a two-run double by Rylie Hartman (Kankakee, Ill./Herscher).
 
Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) leads the league wit a .466 batting average and is in the top-20 in the nation. Stewart leads the team with 54 hits, 33 runs, 14 doubles, and seven home runs. Izzi Hanna (Granger, Ind./Penn) and Hartman are both hitting above .360 while four additional Huskies are hitting at a clip of .317 or above. As a team, NIU is batting at a .329 average, third best in the league.
 
In the circle, Madison Carlson (South Beloit, Ill./South Beloit) leads NIU with a 2.65 ERA. Carlson has a total of 59 strikeouts this season, six complete games, and ten wins to lead NIU. As a staff, the NIU pitchers are holding opponents to a 4.85 ERA and a total of 145 strikeouts.
 
Toledo enters this weekend after going 1-2 against Buffalo last weekend. Samantha Bolding leads the team with a .362 batting average while Eli Enriquez sits at an .358 average and leads with 57 hits and 38 runs. Audrey Miller is the final Rocket above .300, sitting at .325 with 50 hits on the season. In the circle, Katie McDonald leads the team with a 5.21 ERA and 80 strikeouts.
 
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