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Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student news organization since 1899

 

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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Freshman pitcher Ty Brachbill stands on the mound on April 19 at Ralph McKinzie Field at Walt and Janice Owens Park. Brachbill pitched a complete game on Friday in a 2-1 victory over Central Michigan University. (Northern Star File Photo)

Brachbill’s stellar start opens weekend series with a win

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | April 27, 2024

Freshman pitcher Ty Brachbill spun a complete game gem to take a crucial 2-1 series opening victory against Central Michigan University.  BRACHBILL’S BEST PERFORMANCE The freshman right hander shut down the Chippewas’ offense in Friday’s...

Former NIU football safety Jimmie Ward prepares for a snap in an NIU football game against Arkansas State University at the GoDaddy Bowl on Jan. 8, 2012. Ward is set to be inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame class of 2024. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Ward added to 2024 NIU Athletics Hall of Fame class

By Zack Rodriguez, Sports Reporter | April 25, 2024

Former NIU star safety Jimmie Ward will be inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024, NIU announced Tuesday.  Ward joins the 2024 class along with former quarterback Jordan Lynch, gymnast Holly Reichard, volleyball star Kate McCullagh and...

NIU junior pitcher Conner Lutes (36) pitches during the second inning against UIC. Lutes pitched five innings, gave up one earned run and had one strikeout. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Huskie bats go cold in loss to UIC

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | April 25, 2024

After a three-run first inning, the Huskies’ offense went quiet as NIU baseball (13-27, 7-11 MAC) fell 5-4 to the University of Illinois Chicago Flames (25-12, 9-6 MVC) Wednesday.  An early lead and a quality start from junior pitcher Conner Lutes...

Sophomore pitcher/utility Danielle Stewart (left) and senior catcher/outfielder Ellis Erickson (right) jump up for a high five during pre-game on April 12. NIU softball won both games of a doubleheader on Wednesday against Valparaiso University. (Northern Star File Photo)

Softball sweeps Valparaiso in doubleheader

By Lucas Didier, Assistant Sports Editor | April 24, 2024

NIU softball (15-29, 6-14 MAC) crushed Valparaiso University (8-34, 2-15 MVC), outscoring the Beacons 13-2 in a doubleheader sweep Wednesday. Wednesday’s pair of wins marked the first sweep of any kind for the Huskies this season. Three Huskie...

Senior catcher/outfielder Ellis Erickson (23) rounds first base after hitting a single on March 30 against Kent State University. Erickson was named to the Northern Star Sports Staffs MAC softball All-Star squad. (Northern Star File Photo)

COLUMN: Building the 2024 MAC All-Star softball team

By Skyler Kisellus, Sports Reporter | April 24, 2024

As the 2024 regular season winds down and the postseason draws near, there’s no better time than the present to visit the world of make-believe – one where the MAC’s top talents join forces on a stacked 2024 MAC softball All-Star team featuring...

The Huskies baseball team celebrate after freshman catcher Cooper Cohn (4) hit a home run to win the game against Valparaiso on Tuesday. NIU was tied 9-9 after the top of the ninth inning until Cooper hit the home run with only one out in the inning. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Cohn’s ninth-inning heroics push Huskies past Valparaiso

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | April 23, 2024

DeKALB – Freshman catcher Cooper Cohn walked off Valparaiso University with a towering solo home run in the ninth inning as the Huskies won 10-9.  COHN CALLED GAME The freshman backstop had his fair share of struggles in this game, dropping two...

Then-junior Jasmine Ly shoots at the 2023 MAC Championship in April of 2023. Ly finished tied for 25th place in her final tournament of her senior season as the Huskies finished in third place at the 2024 MAC Championship. (Northern Star File Photo)

NIU women’s golf places third at the MAC Championship

By Eddie Miller, Sports Reporter | April 23, 2024

NIU women’s golf wrapped up the 2023-24 season Tuesday after placing third at the MAC Championship. Senior Emily Romancew and graduate student Sydney Naro each logged a top-10 finish.  The Huskies kicked off the tournament with a score of 310 in...

A graphic shows redshirt sophomore Adam Brouwer as the Huskie of the Week. Brouwer pitched 7.2 innings for NIU baseball Saturday and only allowed one earned run in his outing. (Eddie Miller | Northern Star)

Brouwer’s quality start earns Huskie of the Week honors

By Northern Star Sports Staff | April 22, 2024

DeKALB – Redshirt sophomore pitcher Adam Brouwer’s gem on Saturday earned NIU baseball its second straight Huskie of the Week honor.  Brouwer totaled 7.2 innings pitched in Saturday’s matchup against Kent State, tallying five strikeouts and...

Then-junior Colin Summerhill stands over home plate in an NIU baseball home game against Western Michigan University on April 14, 2023. Summerhill was named to the Northern Star Sports Staffs MAC baseball All-Star squad. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

COLUMN: Assembling the 2024 MAC baseball All-Star team

By Zachary Bertram and Joseph Segreti | April 22, 2024

With the MAC baseball season a little more than halfway over, now is the perfect time to create our own MAC baseball All-Star team.  CATCHER: NIU senior Colin Summerhill  The backstop of the Huskies currently leads the MAC in home runs with 17...

Senior first baseman Mason Kelley (18) throws the ball to the catcher at home plate during the sixth inning of an NIU baseball game against Bowling Green State University on April 6. Kelley scored the game-tying run in the ninth inning against Kent State University on Saturday, but the Huskies fell 9-8 in extra innings. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Nightmare ninth dooms Huskies in series loss to Kent State

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | April 22, 2024

DeKALB – A two-out, ninth-inning grand slam from senior infielder Tim Orr lifted the Kent State University Golden Flashes (19-18, 10-8 MAC) to a 9-8 win and series victory over NIU baseball (12-26, 7-11 MAC) Sunday.  Trailing 7-4 with two outs and...

Sophomore right fielder Fiona Crane (26) throws the ball infield after catching the foul against the fence line in right field while senior center fielder Ellis Erickson (23) and junior second baseman Jenna Turner (4) cheer her on in the field. NIU softball was defeated 9-3 by the University at Buffalo Bulls Sunday. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Softball drops home series against Buffalo

By Skyler Kisellus, Sports Reporter | April 22, 2024

DeKALB – An afternoon’s worth of bullying by the University at Buffalo Bulls has left NIU softball, a team that had championship expectations entering 2024, with no chance of a winning conference mark. NIU (13-29, 6-14 MAC) suffered its 14th conference...

Junior Felix Krammer watches his shot at the Badger Invitational in October of 2023. NIU mens golf finished tied for seventh out of 18 teams at the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate on Sunday. (Northern Star File Photo)

Men’s golf ties for 7th at Robert Kepler Intercollegiate

By Eddie Miller, Sports Reporter | April 22, 2024

NIU men’s golf wrapped up the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate Sunday, finishing tied for seventh place out of 18 teams.  The Huskies kicked off the tournament with a score of 296 in the first round and improved in each of the next rounds. NIU shot...