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Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student media 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

NIU sophomore Christopher Norlin celebrates during a doubles match on March 2. Norlin won in singles and doubles as NIU men's tennis defeated University of Illinois Chicago 6-1 Saturday. (Northern Star File Photo)

Men’s tennis thumps UIC, wins fifth straight

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | March 31, 2024

Extending its winning streak to five matches, four of which being in conference play, NIU men’s tennis (16-3, 5-1 MAC) defeated the University of Illinois Chicago (9-8, 1-5 MAC) in a 6-1 victory.  The Huskies swept doubles matches to earn the double’s...

NIU football players run onto the field of Huskie Stadium before their game against Eastern Michigan University on Oct. 21, 2023. Head coach Thomas Hammock previewed the 2024 regular season at the Pre-Spring Press Conference. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Hammock previews NIU spring football, position competitions

By Zack Rodriguez, Former Sports Reporter | March 31, 2024

NIU football head coach Thomas Hammock spoke to the media at the NIU Football 2024 Pre-Spring Press Conference. In case you missed it, here are the biggest takeaways from Hammock's 22 minutes at the podium.  EMPHASIS ON SPECIAL TEAMS  Hammock...

Senior outfielder/catcher Collin Summerhill catches a baseball before an NIU baseball game against Louisiana State University. Summerhill hit his ninth home run of the 2024 season in a 5-3 win over the University of Toledo on Saturday. (Courtesy of Jonathan Mailhes)

Huskies avoid sweep behind Summerhill longball

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | March 31, 2024

Senior catcher/outfielder Colin Summerhill’s ninth home run of the season proved to be the difference in NIU baseball’s (10-18, 6-6 MAC) 5-3 triumph over the University of Toledo Rockets (13-14, 8-4 MAC) Saturday.  "Games like today are big, when...

Junior pitcher Tommy Meyer throws a pitch in an NIU baseball game against Louisiana State University. Meyer gave up eight runs in three innings before the Huskies rallied to cut Toledo's lead to one run in the ninth inning. (Courtesy of Jonathan Mailhes)

Baseball rallies late, falls short to Toledo

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | March 29, 2024

NIU baseball (9-18, 5-6 MAC) dropped its second consecutive game in a loss to University of Toledo (13-13, 8-3 MAC) by a score of 8-7 to fall below .500 in MAC play for the first time this season. POOR STARTING PITCHING For the second consecutive...

NIU sophomore Nataly Ninova prepares for a strike against Eastern Illinois University on March 9. Ninova and her doubles partner, junior Erika Dimitriev, earned MAC Doubles Team of the Week honors, along with NIU seniors Mikael Vollbach and Cheng En Tsai. (Northern Star File Photo)

Tennis Sweeps MAC Doubles Team of the Week

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | March 28, 2024

NIU swept the Mid-American Conference Doubles Team of the Week honors, with a team from both NIU men’s (15-3, 4-1 MAC) and women’s tennis (12-7, 1-2 MAC) being awarded the honor.  Senior duo Cheng En Tsai and Mikael Vollbach were named the MAC...

Then-junior outfielder Eric Erato (5) watches a pop-up on April 8, 2023. Erato collected a hit in his 12th game out of his last 13 as NIU baseball lost 23-4 to the University of Toledo Thursday. (Northern Star File Photo)

Huskies toppled by Toledo in 23-4 rout

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | March 28, 2024

Following NIU baseball’s (9-17, 5-5 MAC) 17-8 victory over Northwestern University on Tuesday, the Huskies offense was held to only four runs to open its series against the University of Toledo (12-13, 7-3 MAC). PITCHING MELTDOWN Freshman pitcher...

Chicago White Sox shortstop Danny Mendick throws a baseball during the second inning of a spring training baseball game Friday in Tempe, Arizona. The White Sox and Chicago Cubs are set for their respective Opening Day games on Thursday. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Cubs, White Sox ready for 2024 season

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | March 27, 2024

MLB opening day is fast approaching as the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs open up their 2024 seasons Thursday. The White Sox begin with a three-game home series against the AL Central rival Detroit Tigers. The Cubs travel to Arlington for a three-game...

Sophomore forward Yanic Konan Niederhauser (from left) shoots a free throw while sophomore forward Xavier Amos (13), freshman guard Will Lovings-Watts (1), junior guard Zarique Nutter (2) and redshirt sophomore Zion Russell huddle up in an NIU men's basketball home game against the University at Buffalo on Feb. 13. All five players have entered the transfer portal since the end of the 2023-2024 regular season. (Ryanne Sandifer | Northern Star)

5 NIU men’s basketball players enter transfer portal

By Ethan Gonzales, Former Sports Editor | March 27, 2024

DeKALB – Five NIU men’s basketball players have entered the transfer portal, per multiple social media posts. Verbal Commits announced that junior guard Zarique Nutter, sophomore forwards Xavier Amos and Yanic Konan Niederhauser, freshman guard...

Senior infielder Jake Nelson throws a baseball in an NIU baseball game against Louisiana State University. Nelson went 2-for-3 with an RBI in the Huskies' 17-8 victory over Northwestern University. (Courtesy of Jonathan Mailhes)

Huskies pull away from Northwestern behind late-inning surge

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | March 26, 2024

After falling behind 4-0 in the first inning, the Huskies’ bats exploded for a season-high 17 runs to lead NIU baseball (9-16, 5-4 MAC) to a 17-8 victory over Northwestern University (10-12) Tuesday. Junior outfielder JP Gauthier continued to swing...

Redshirt sophomore Adam Brouwer delivers a pitch against Miami University at McKie Field at Hayden Park in Oxford, Ohio. Brouwer's seven-inning shutout performance boosted the Huskies to a 1-0 win over the RedHawks on Sunday. (Ellison Neumann | Courtesy of Miami Athletics)

Huskies take down Miami in pitchers duel

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | March 24, 2024

Behind the best performance of redshirt sophomore pitcher Adam Brouwer’s career, NIU baseball (8-16, 5-4 MAC) snuck past the Miami University RedHawks (9-13, 4-5 MAC) 1-0 Sunday.  Brouwer pitched seven shutout innings, allowing four hits and walking...

NIU redshirt sophomore Blake West grapples on the back of Lock Haven freshman Logan Sallot on Feb. 9. West was eliminated in the first round at the 2024 NCAA Championships. (Northern Star File Photo)

West makes earl departure from Nationals

By Zack Rodriguez, Former Sports Reporter | March 24, 2024

After falling short of an at-large bid into the 2023 NCAA Championships, redshirt sophomore Blake West made his Nationals debut in Kansas City, Missouri, Thursday. West was eliminated from the tournament after losing both matches in the opening round. West...

Then junior infielder/outfielder Andrew Smart (27) takes a practice swing while on-deck on March 24, 2023. NIU baseball lost its fourth straight game as it lost 7-4 to Miami University. (Northern Star File Photo)

Huskies end MAC series winning streak

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | March 24, 2024

A shutout performance from the University of Miami RedHawks (9-12, 4-4 MAC) bullpen led Miami to a 7-4 victory over NIU baseball (7-16, 4-4 MAC) Saturday, handing the Huskies their first conference series loss of 2024.  The Huskies opened up MAC play...