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Stephanie Tofft earns national recognition

May 20, 2011
Stephanie Tofft

Stephanie Tofft

Northern Illinois University softball freshman Stephanie Tofft was named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Great Lakes Region second team Thursday by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).

Tofft, who put together a school-record 36-game hitting streak during the season, is the first Huskie to earn All-Region honors since 2003, when Lisa Mattke was a second team choice.

She is the 16th NIU selection all-time to be named All-Region.

“It’s a very deserving honor for Steph,” said NIU head coach Lindsay Chouinard. “She had an incredible season. She was a consistent offensive threat for us and did whatever we asked her to do, playing multiple positions. She just had a stellar year.”

Tofft, a native of Lincoln, Calif., is a utility player/non-pitcher.

The only Huskie to start all 53 games this season, she made 33 starts in the outfield, nine at catcher and seven at third base. Named the 2011 Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year, a first-team All-MAC and MAC All-Freshman Team selection as, Tofft made her mark on the national scene and assaulted the NIU record book in her rookie season.

The catalyst for the Huskie offense, Tofft is currently 21st in the country in batting average with a team-high .434 average while her team-leading .512 on-base percentage ranks 38th in the country and is fourth on the school’s all-time list.

Tofft led Northern Illinois in nine other offensive categories including slugging percentage (.590) and her team-high 46 runs is second on the school’s single season list. Her school-record 36-game hitting streak this season, topping the previous mark of 15, and her team-high 75 hits on the year broke the NIU record for most hits in a season.

She tallied 24 multi-hit games, including 20 two-hit games. She also led the team in RBIs with 37 and in doubles with 15 to rank fourth and fifth, respectively, on the school’s single season lists. Tofft, one of six MAC players to earn All-Region accolades, also stole a team-leading 17 bases.

For more information on NIU softball and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.