AKRON, Ohio—Exiting the 2026 MAC Tournament, the Northern Illinois University Huskies softball team fell 15-5 to the Ohio University Bobcats.
Jenna Turner (Marengo, Ill./Marengo) and
Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) both had multi-hit games for the Huskies as they accounted for four of the seven NIU hits. Stewart had two RBIs in the game for NIU.
Madison Carlson (South Beloit, Ill./South Beloit) matched her career best eight strikeouts in the contest as she went six innings in the circle.
"I am extremely proud of this group and all they accomplished this season," said NIU head coach Kathryn Gleason. "These seniors raised the standards, and I am thankful for all they gave to the program, the department, and the university. They are true student-athletes that represented NIU on and off the field."
How It Happened
The Bobcats opened the game with a solo home run to left-center field, followed by a double in their next at-bat. The Huskie defense responded with two quick outs, but a base hit down the right-field line brought in Ohio's second run.
Stewart recorded NIU's first hit of the game with a single to left, joining Turner on base. Turner scored the Huskies' first run on a sacrifice fly to right field, and Stewart later tied the game on a wild pitch.
NIU's defense allowed just one hit while adding a strikeout in the top of the second. In the bottom half, the Bobcats recorded an early out before issuing back-to-back walks. A Turner single loaded the bases, and NIU took its first lead on an RBI walk. Another walk forced in the fourth run before consecutive flyouts ended the inning.
Ohio cut into the Huskies' lead in the fourth with an RBI double, then reclaimed the advantage in the fifth on a two-run home run with two outs. Carlson ended the inning with her seventh strikeout of the game.
In the bottom of the fifth, NIU opened with back-to-back hits, and a walk loaded the bases before a fielder's choice ended the threat.
The Bobcats added a two-run home run in the sixth, followed by an RBI double to make it 8–4.
Taylor Mackin (Minooka, Ill./Minooka Community) struck out the final batter of the inning for NIU's ninth strikeout of the game.
Turner singled to left to reach base in the bottom of the inning and scored two batters later on Stewart's base hit up the middle as a double play ended the frame.
Mirroring the first inning, Ohio opened the seventh with a lead-off home run to extend its lead to four. A triple plated two more runs, and a three-run home run pushed the Bobcats further ahead before NIU recorded the final out of the inning.
Rylie Hartman (Kankakee, Ill./Herscher) recorded the Huskies' final hit of the game before the Bobcats ended the contest with a strikeout.
NIU finishes the 2026 season with a record of 25-18. The Huskies recorded their most conference wins since 2000, broke two NIU school records, tied another record and made their mark in NCAA history.
Stewart ends her career with the third-best single season batting average at .451.
Kayla Estrada (Riverside, Calif./Martin Luther King) enters a three-way tie for fourth in most single season RBIs with 45 as Stewart enters the top-6 with 44 RBIs this season.
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