With a 13-9 record, the NIU softball team will face off against the nation’s top players during the 2003 season.

Central Michigan’s Amber Pulchalski, pitcher

She has a 6-3 record this season with a 1.46 ERA while holding teams to a .205 batting average.

“She is probably the most experienced and successful pitcher in the conference,” NIU coach Donna Martin said. “She was the MAC Freshman of the Year two years ago and was a finalist for MAC Player of the Year last season.”

Pulchalski had a 21-6 record last season with 308 strikeouts, a MAC record. She was third in the country with 10.9 strikeouts per seven innings. She led the MAC in wins (21), strikeouts (308), shutouts (9) and opponents batting average (.171). She was second in the MAC with a 1.45 ERA.

DePaul’s Lindsay Chouinard, pitcher

Chouinard has a 9-2 record this season and a 0.92 ERA. She has 11 complete games and three shutouts with three saves.

Last year, she had a 0.44 ERA, good for second in the nation. She was 10th in the nation with 28 wins, and 13th in the nation with five saves. She had a streak of 82 scoreless innings pitched, and she also threw three no-hitters, including one against 13th-ranked Pacific.

Buffalo’s Breanne Nasti, outfielder

Nasti is batting .333 with four doubles and four RBIs. She has 21 total bases, good for tops on the team.

“She’s an exceptional hitter,” Martin said. “She’s also a very good athlete.”

Last season, Nasti hit .451 with four triples, seven home runs and 25 RBIs. She had 89 total bases.

Marshall’s Amanda Williams, outfielder

Williams, a freshman, has a .474 batting average, three homers and 27 RBIs in 30 games this season. She is first in the conference in hits (46), RBIs (27) and total bases (64).

“I haven’t read any press releases on her so far,” Martin said. “We have to learn a lot about her for our game plans.”

Illinois State’s Audra Rast, pitcher

Rast has a 7-7 record this season with 10 complete games to go along with four shutouts. She also has 100 strikeouts in 99 innings. Rast holds a 2.11 ERA while limiting opponents to a .196 batting average.

Last season, she had 25 wins and 235 strikeouts in 220 innings, a 1.07 strikeout per inning average. She was the Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year last season.