DeKALB — NIU entered its midweek series against Ball State as one of the Mid-American Conference’s top hitting teams, batting .324 for the second-best mark in the league. On Tuesday, the Huskies backed it up with their 11th double-digit hit performance of the season.
The Huskies (13-11, 7-5 MAC) notched 11 hits and scored five runs in the first three innings as they cruised past the Cardinals (15-18, 3-10 MAC) 8-2 on Tuesday afternoon at Mary M. Bell Field in DeKalb.
NIU also got another strong outing from ace Madison Carlson, who allowed three hits and just one run over five innings. Carlson picked up her seventh win to remain undefeated in the circle and maintains the MAC’s lowest earned run average of 2.22.
“I thought we came out ready to play. We were excited to play. We haven’t played a midweek, so this is a good start for us,” head coach Kathryn Gleason said. “We scored first, we scored last — and that’s the big thing — and Maddie just gives us a presence on the mound that she’s just leading us right now.”
Carlson set the tone early, retiring the side in order to open the game before NIU’s offense took advantage of early control miscues by Ball State starter Ella Whitney. Leadoff hitter Jenna Turner was hit by a pitch, and Izzi Hanna followed with a walk.
Designated hitter Danielle “Dee Dee” Stewart then reached on a fielder’s choice that put Hanna out at second before advancing to second on a wild pitch. After Whitney issued a second walk to load the bases, third baseman Mia Morera kicked off the scoring with an RBI single that brought home Turner. Shortstop Alana Powell immediately followed with a double to center to score Kayla Estrada and make it 2-0.
Carlson kept the Cardinals scoreless over the next three innings — giving up one hit and two walks — while the Huskies extended their lead with a three-run third inning.
After Estrada reached first on an error and Morera singled, Powell drove in her second run of the day with an RBI single, scoring pinch runner Mallory Wollenmann. Later in the frame, with the bases loaded and two outs, Turner ripped a double into right field to score two runs and push the lead to 5-0.
Ball State spoiled the shutout bid in the top of the fifth, as Skylinn Pogue singled to score Grace Gray before ending the inning. NIU promptly answered with another three-run frame. With two outs and the bases loaded once again, Stewart delivered a bases-clearing double to extend the Huskies’ advantage to 8-1.
“I figured I was going to get outside just because of my previous at-bat — I crushed an inside pitch,” Stewart said. “I watched two good outside pitches, but then I started fouling them off, and I figured I was going to get a changeup soon. So, that was the pitch that I drove into the gap.”
Stewart also pitched the final two innings in relief of Carlson, including a shaky stretch in the sixth. The right-hander hit the first batter she faced and retired the next two before running into trouble with back-to-back wild pitches and three consecutive walks to force in Ball State’s second run. Stewart soon regrouped and struck out pinch hitter Hayley Urban to escape the bases-loaded jam.
NIU recorded two hits in the bottom of the sixth but didn’t score any runs. Stewart then forced a fly out before sandwiching her third strikeout with two walks. Right fielder Ally Rodriguez closed out the victory by catching the game’s final out.
“Dee Dee’s a tough player; she’s a great player; she’s a very competitive player,” Gleason said of Stewart’s stint in the circle. “We’re just trying to get her back in the swing, and she’s doing a great job.”
The Huskies will continue their series against the Cardinals at 1 p.m. Wednesday to kick off a doubleheader, with the second game scheduled for a 3 p.m. start.
