The NIU baseball team will kick off a six game homestand by hosting Wheaton College today at 3 p.m. for a non-conference matchup.

The game was a late addition to the Huskies schedule and they will follow with a game against Chicago State Wednesday and a three-game set with Central Michigan this weekend. The homestand will be capped off with a game against Illinois Chicago April 25.

Division III Wheaton boasts a record of 21-6 and are coming off an 17-8 victory over Clark University.

Rough time on the track

One throw was all sophomore Jennene Anthony needed to set a school record and qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Regionals at the Toledo Triangular Thursday in Toledo, Ohio.

The NIU track and field team placed last in the triangular, finishing beneath first-place Bowling Green and Toledo.

Anthony’s discus throw of 156’1″ shattered the previous record of 146’10” held by junior Ashley Morrow.

“It was an awesome performance by Jennene,” coach Connie Teaberry said. “She’s been looking good since Arizona and it was only a matter of time before she put everything together.”

Despite having her record broken, Morrow won the shot put and hammer throw.

Also taking first in an event was NIU’s 4×400 team of seniors Ajahnae Hinley and April Lowery, junior Lorene Skipper and sophomore Carolyn Vasquez.

Hinley also claimed the 400-meter dash in a school-record time of 56.89 and Skipper claimed the 800-meter title.

“I was really proud of these young ladies,” Teaberry said. “They came out ready to compete.”

On the upswing

The NIU women’s golf team improved by 19 strokes Saturday and overcame a rough first round to place 11th at the Lady Illini Invitational.

“We showed a vast improvement and I think this is a better snapshot of things to come,” coach Pam Tyska said. Senior Jackie Bailey improved by six shots to score a 76, which put her in a tie for 26th place.