April 18, 2008

DeKALB, Ill. - The Northern Illinois softball team received two National Letters of Intent for the 2009 season to increase the 2009 incoming total to six players. Head coach Lindsay Chouinard adds her first pitcher in Morgan Bittner and signed an intriguing catcher/outfielder in Michelle Williams; both hail from the state of California.

The addition of Bittner, a Long Beach, Calif. native, gives the Huskies great pitching depth for the 2009 season. Bittner was a four-year starter on varsity for Long Beach Poly High School where she was named the Rookie of the Year in 2005 for the CIF. That same year, she led the Southern California Jets travel team to a National Championship. In 2006, she led Long Beach to its first Moore League title in school history. In 2007, she set a new school strikeout record with 159 strikeouts in 129 innings. Bittner was also named Team MVP two years, First-Team All-Moore League and Second-Team All-CIF.

"Morgan is just the pitcher I was looking for as my first pitcher signee," said Chouinard. "She has an active wrist complimented by great control. With the ability to spot the ball where she wants with different movement at contrasting speeds, she will be a difference maker for this program."

Williams comes to NIU after attending Fresno City College for two years. The Fresno, Calif., native played for Bullard High School where in her senior year, she was the BHS Athlete of the Year and won the team Golden Glove award. In Williams' junior year, she was a First-Team All-Conference performer and a Second-Team All-Conference selection in her sophomore year. As a freshman, she helped BHS to a 24-5 record and a conference championship.

"Michelle is a diamond in the rough," Chouinard said. "With a year of Division I softball under her belt at one of the premiere programs on the West Coast, she has the know-how and work ethic to raise the level of this program. I could not be more excited to have her join our Huskie family."

The Huskies play a doubleheader today against Bowling Green at 12 p.m. CDT in Bowling Green, Ohio before traveling to Toledo, Ohio for an 11 a.m. game on Saturday and a 12 p.m. game on Sunday.

-NIU-