Softball sophomore first baseman Kayti Grable blasts her way to No. 4 on Sports’ list of top 10 athletes.

After winning MAC Freshman of the Year last season, Grable has hit for an average of .412 with an on-base percentage of .512 and a .733 slugging percentage. She’s compiled 54 hits, 11 home runs, 39 RBIs and 27 walks.

Grable recently tied the Huskies’ single season record of 11 home runs, a record she’s on pace to break with four regular season games and the MAC Tournament remaining. Grable is on track to break into second place on NIU’s single-season RBI list, the top three for slugging percentage record, the top four on the on-base percentage list and the top five for batting average record.

“It’s tough,” Grable said of her recent success, according to an April 23 Northern Star article. “You just have to keep working hard and keep improving. That’s what I think my main goal was: to keep getting better and keep staying consistent.”