Ellis Erickson (Lutz, Fla./Freedom) and Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) have earned National Fastpitch Coaches Assocation (NFCA) All-Region Honors (Great Lakes Region) as announced today (May 18).

Stewart repeats as a Third Team honoree while Erickson was named to the First Team. This is the third consecutive season that the NIU softball program has had two honorees.

Erickson was the lone Huskie to start all 52 games this season, starting behind the plate before becoming the primary centerfielder for the Huskies. Erickson boasts a .391 batting average, 68 hits, 21 doubles, and nine home runs, leading the Huskies in hits, doubles, and home runs. Erickson’s 21 doubles put her in a tie for second for the most doubles in a single season with Katie Keller (2019). Erickson had a 17-game hitting streak that lasted from March 16 (Central Michigan) to April 13 (Toledo).

A force in the circle, Stewart maintained a 2.54 ERA this season, making 25 appearances for the Huskies. Stewart collected eight complete games, two shutout victories, and 117 strikeouts, while holding opponents to a .211 average. Stewart pitched her first no-hitter on April 26 against Bowling Green, the first for the Huskie program in seven innings since 2006. On the other side of the plate, Stewart maintained a .344 batting average, 45 hits, 28 runs, 12 doubles, six stolen bases, and seven home runs for the Huskies. Stewart also recorded a grand slam on April 10 against Bradley, the first of her career.

The duo collected All-MAC First Team honors earlier this month.

The NFCA awarded 376 student-athletes from 160 programs. The Mid-American Conference was represented by 14 honorees. The awards honor softball student-athletes from the Association’s 10 regions with first, second and third-team selections. NFCA member head coaches from each respective region nominated student-athletes (eight maximum) and voted for the teams. All awarded student-athletes now become eligible for the 2024 NFCA Division I All-America squads.