Avery Garden

Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics

January 9, 2025, Evanston, IL: Members of the Northwestern Softball team pose for photos as part of Internal Media Days at Walter Athletics Center in Evanston, IL on Thursday, January 9, 2025. (Photo by Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics)

Height:
5-7
Class:
First-Year
High School:
Allen Park High School
Hometown:
Allen Park, Michigan

2025: Appeared in 44 games and made 34 starts as a first-year … Finished with five home runs and 20 RBI … Made her collegiate debut in Northwestern’s season-opening win over Kennesaw State (2/7) … Notched her first career hit, a three-run home run, in a win over UT Arlington (2/16) … Came around to score in a win over Utah (2/22) … Picked up a hit and two RBI in a win over Longwood (3/1) … Broke out to begin Big Ten play in Oklahoma City, posting a .500 batting average (6-for-12), which included a four-hit, two RBI performance in a win over Michigan State (3/13-3/16) … Racked up seven RBI during Northwestern’s seven-game winning streak (2/28-3/16) … Blasted the game-winning home run to beat Minnesota, 3-2 in a Friday doubleheader sweep (3/28) … Batted .400 (6-for-15) during a five-game hitting streak against Northern Illinois, Minnesota, and Notre Dame (3/26-4/1) … Hit .357 (5-for-14) with a home run and three RBI over an eight-game stretch against Loyola Chicago, Rutgers, UIC, and Wisconsin (4/16-27) … Hit .333 (3-for-9) with two home runs and six RBI over the weekend at UCLA (5/2-4).

Career Highs
At-Bats.................... 4 (3x), last vs. Notre Dame (4/1/25)
Hits................................. 4, vs. Michigan State (3/16/25)
Runs.................................................. 3, at UIC (4/22/25)
RBI..................................... 3 (3x), last at UCLA (5/3/25)
Doubles……………........ 1, vs. Michigan State (3/15/25)
Home Runs……..……........ 1 (5x), last at UCLA (5/3/25)
Total Bases...................................... 5, at UCLA (5/2/25)
Walks................................................. 2, at UIC (4/22/25)
Stolen Bases.............1 (6x), last vs. Wisconsin (4/25/25)

High School: Ranked No. 47 overall player in the 2024 class by Extra Innings Softball … 2023 First Team All-American (Extra Innings) … NFCA Academic All-American … Hit .441 with 13 home runs and 64 RBI as a junior … Career .452 hitter with 26 home runs in three high school seasons … 2023 SBLive National High School Softball Outfielder of the Year nominee … Two-time MLive Metro Detroit Softball Dream Team selection … Led Allen Park to the Division I State Championship with a 38-4-1 overall record as a sophomore … Has played club softball for the Beverly Bandits since 12U, led by Bill Conroy … Parents are Andrew and Melanie Garden … Honor roll student … Anticipated major at Northwestern is education.

Drohan on Garden: "Avery is a ballplayer. She is a student of the game with great versatility and power. Avery's competitiveness and approach to the game will feed our championship culture."

Garden on Choosing Northwestern: "I chose Northwestern because of the atmosphere I felt around the softball program. Northwestern is a place where opportunities are endless, and there are so many resources to succeed."