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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 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...

Senior outfielder/infielder Parker Shupe throws from the outfield in an NIU baseball game against Louisiana State University. NIU baseball started the 2024 season 7-14, but already look to surpass the total win count of the 2023 season. (Courtesy of Jonathan Mailhes)

COLUMN: NIU Baseball poised for a bounce back season

By Zachary Bertram and Joseph Segreti | March 21, 2024

Under first year NIU baseball head coach Ryan Copeland, NIU baseball (7-14, 4-2 MAC) is well on its way to shattering both their conference win total and overall win total from a season ago.  After going 5-24 in conference play in 2023, the Huskies...

Senior pitcher Ryan Linkletter throws a pitch in an NIU baseball game against Lousiana State University. Linkletter gave up four runs on three hits against Illinois State University on Wednesday. (Courtesy of Jonathan Mailhes)

Baseball drops midweek shootout against Illinois State

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | March 20, 2024

NIU baseball (7-14, 4-2 MAC) dropped its matinee slugfest to Illinois State University (10-9) Wednesday by a score of 16-12.  In a game where the Huskies gave up 16 runs, NIU used nine pitchers over eight innings with freshman pitcher Alex Day having...

NIU then-redshirt junior quarterback Jordan Lynch prepares to throw a pass during a game against the University at Buffalo on Oct. 13, 2012, at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. Lynch was announced Friday as a member of the 2024 classes of the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame and MAC Hall of Fame. (Scott Walstrom | NIU Athletics)

Former Huskie star Jordan Lynch to join NIU, MAC Halls of Fame

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | March 17, 2024

DeKALB – One decade after finishing his storied playing career, former NIU quarterback Jordan Lynch will be inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame and the MAC Hall of Fame this year, the institutions announced Friday. Once an All-American and...

Then-junior infielder Eric Erato swings at a pitch against the University of Illinois Chicago on April 25, 2023. Erato went 3-for-5 in NIU baseball's 6-1 victory over Ohio University on Sunday. (Mingda Wu | Northern Star)

Shutdown pitching powers NIU to first MAC-series win since 2021

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | March 12, 2024

Behind a dominant start from redshirt sophomore pitcher Adam Brouwer, NIU baseball (5-11, 2-1 MAC) cruised to a 6-1 rubber match victory over the Ohio University Bobcats (5-8, 1-2 MAC) in its first series of conference play Sunday. After a doubleheader...