Sixth-year senior Shelby Bernard of the NIU softball team said she expects to earn her second degree from NIU in August.

Despite the extra-super senior being on scholarship, her athletic training and personal health degrees weren’t exactly free.

Bernard has paid her dues to NIU by taking two line drives to the head amidst a plethora of other injuries on the softball diamond.

Since coming to NIU coach Donna Martin’s program in 2000, Bernard has played three full seasons while receiving a medical redshirt and medical hardship.

“I never imagined I’d be here six years,” Bernard said. “It’s become a family joke because most of my friends have graduated and moved on.”

Bernard began her NIU career by winning the starting job at third base, but was greeted unkindly in her second game as a freshman.

As the batter showed bunt on the first pitch, Bernard crept down the third-base line. A few moments later the batter pulled her bunt back to a full swing and connected with a frozen rope that drilled Bernard in the head.

The Cedar Falls, Iowa native missed the rest of the season with an eye injury. She was granted a medical redshirt as NIU went on to win the MAC regular season title for the second straight year.

Bernard came back the following season in the starting spot at shortstop. She played in 53 of NIU’s 55 games that spring and batted .300 for the Huskies in the MAC tournament.

However, the injury bug chomped down on Bernard again during fall workouts.

Despite finding out in October that she had a herniated disc in her back, Bernard started four of NIU’s first five games in the spring of 2003.

“I tried to tough it out,” Bernard said. “It hurt too much to play, so I had to sit.”

Bernard began rehabilitation on her back after receiving a medical hardship.

Since all NCAA athletes are granted five years of athletic competition as incoming freshman, she could only get the 2003 season back through a medical hardship.

Bernard qualified for the hardship because she met one of the three requirements, which was playing in less than 20 percent of her team’s games.

Bernard managed to escape any injuries the next two seasons. In 2003, she batted .275 with 25 RBIs and hit her first home run as a Huskie.

Off the field Bernard became one of Martin’s six first-team All-MAC Academic selections since she became the head coach in 1995.

Bernard repeated the feat last year before rotator cuff surgery sidelined her from workouts this past off season.

“The biggest challenge I found in rehab is getting through it day to day,” Bernard said. “You have to take such small steps. But I look back now and it was nine months ago.”

Fresh off her second rehab stint, Bernard returned to full practice workouts in February. But having already earned her athletic training degree, she wasn’t ecstatic to return to the team at first.

“During the fall I thought a lot about whether or not softball was really what I wanted to do,” she said. “I realized I was still having a good time and had things I wanted to do my senior season.”

Yet again, Bernard’s season has been cut short for the time being.

Over Spring Break she was waiting her turn to field ground balls when she was hit in the head by another 16-inch yellow globe.

Since suffering the concussion, Bernard has missed 29 of NIU’s 41 games this spring.

However, she won’t be missing anymore contests. Bernard saw a neurologist Thursday and was cleared to play for the first time since March 13.

“After my rotator cuff surgery I was throwing as hard as I’ve ever been,” Bernard said. “I’ve been able to go full speed since I’ve been back in practice.”

Bernard’s first shot to get back to her old form will be at 5 p.m. on Wednesday at Illinois State.

This time Bernard’s at full strength and ready to finish what she started.