Sixth-year senior Shelby Bernard was the only NIU softball player to make All-MAC anything last spring, and that was the All-Academic team.

The Huskies weren’t even mentioned in the MAC 2005 preseason press release, but for just reasons.

“It’s not like it wasn’t expected,” Martin said. “We have seven new faces and almost an entire new infield. Talking about those changes, we didn’t know what we were going to do.”

NIU coach Donna Martin’s squad finished 14-41 last year. As a team, the Huskies batted .202 and hit 12 home runs while the pitching staff gave up 35.

This season the team has already smashed 13 homers and is batting .285.

Not only are the statistics better, but NIU holds the best overall record in the MAC at 15-9.

“NIU has always had a strong program,” said Bowling Green coach Leigh Ross-Shaw. “So, I am not surprised they are playing well.”

Leading the way for the Huskies are transfers Lindsey LaChiana and Ellen Stoddard.

A transfer from Loyola, LaChiana leads the pitching staff with a 1.89 earned-run-average. She also struck out 81 batters, eight less than senior Kathy Dearborn, who led the Huskies last season.

NIU’s pitching staff has benefitted from additional offensive support in the form of Stoddard, the Harper College transfer. The junior leads the team with a .408 batting average and 16 runs-batted-in through 49 at-bats. She’s only four RBI’s short of junior Kelly Drozd’s total last season.

The Huskies have also put together their first-place record after replacing all but first baseman Toni Del Toro in the infield.

Senior Megan Meyer is back at second base after missing all last season with an injury and sophomore Kelly Park moves to left field after starting at shortstop most of last spring.

Behind the plate moves in Elyse Jamrozy after splitting time with departed senior Annie Johnson. Also, Bernard will be back at shortstop as soon as she heals from off-season shoulder surgery, Martin said. Meanwhile, freshman Krista McPherson has taken over in her place.

However, with the power numbers up from last spring, Stoddard said Martin is still preaching small ball to the team.

“I think we need to work more on bunting because it’s a huge part of the game,” Stoddard said.

Stoddard and the Huskies play their first home MAC game in a 1 p.m. Saturday double header at Mary Bell Field against Bowling Green (10-17 overall, 1-1 MAC). The three-game series will conclude at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

But, a winning streak isn’t the only thing the Huskies possess heading into this weekend as NIU is also tied with Central Michigan (8-7, 2-0) atop the MAC.

CMU is this year’s favorite to win NIU’s division after finishing last season with a 21-3 MAC record.

In the East Division, Miami-Ohio was picked to take home the gold, but currently stands in the middle of its division at 15-15 overall, and 3-2 in the MAC.

Although, it is this weekend’s opponent that won the 2004 MAC Tournament. But BGSU hasn’t returned to last season’s form yet after playing a schedule that included a 3-0 loss to former No. 1 Arizona on March 12 and a 6-0 setback to No. 1 Michigan Wednesday.

“We have been struggling offensively,” Ross-Shaw said. “But remember we have faced some of the best pitching in the country. Our record does not reflect how well we have competed against these top teams.”