Northwestern

Player to watch: Adrienne Monka. The freshman catcher/infielder is one of the main reasons Northwestern is 12-2 in Big Ten play and 27-9 overall. Monka is batting .404 with 15 home runs and 42 RBIs. To put that into perspective, the Huskies as a team have hit just 12 home runs. NIU pitchers may be wise to walk her if the situation presents itself, which wouldn’t be anything new for Monka as she leads the team in walks with 22. Her OPS is an astounding 1.431.

Stat: .302. That is the team batting average with Tammy Williams leading the way with a .456 average. Accompany that with Monka’s .404 average, Michelle Batts’ .320 average and NU’s hitting could mean the Huskies may be in for a long game.

Northwestern head coach Kate Drohan: “I think Northern Illinois is a well-coached team. We’re preparing as we do every other game, focusing on executing our game plan and being aggressive.”

NIU

Player to watch: Morgan Bittner. The freshman pitcher has been solid this year with 18 complete games and an ERA of 5.00. She will have her hands full with the Wildcats’ lineup, which possesses a ton of power. The Wildcats have hit 63 home runs this year and have outscored their opponents 225-118.

Stat: 2-16. That is the road record for the Huskies this season. The poor record is more of a reflection of the very tough competition they have faced on the road, and the Wildcats are at the top of that list. Meanwhile, the Wildcats are 8-0 at home. The Huskies will have their work cut out for them today.

NIU head coach Lindsay Chouinard: “It’s a great opportunity for our girls to get a good win.”