2026: Appeared in 41 games and started 33 for Northwestern … Batted .253 (23-for-91) with six doubles, three triples, and a home run … Started the season with a 3-for-3 performance that included a double in a win over Toledo (2/6) … Batted .333 (4-for-12) with a run scored at the Kajikawa Classic (2/6-8) … Singled and came around to score against UCF (2/13) … Singled twice and drove in a run in a win over Ohio State (2/27) … Doubled and tripled in back-to-back games at Washington (3/7-8) … Hit a home run and a single while driving in three runs in a win over Northern Kentucky (3/13) … Batted .500 (4-for-8) during a weekend sweep over Illinois, including a double and three RBI in the final game (3/20-22) … Posted a double and a triple and drove in a run in a win over Michigan State (4/17) … Drove in a run with a double in a win at Purdue (4/25).

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 (4x), last vs. Ohio State (2/27/26)
Hits................................. 4, vs. Michigan State (3/16/25)
Runs.................................................. 3, at UIC (4/22/25)
RBI................................... 3 (5x), last at Illinois (3/22/26)
Doubles……………..…... 1 (7x), last at Purdue (4/25/26)
Home Runs……..... 1 (6x), last at Northern Ky. (3/13/26)
Total Bases....... 5 (2x), last vs. Michigan State (4/17/26) 
Walks................................................. 2, at UIC (4/22/25)
Stolen Bases…..…..1 (9x), last at Northern Ky. (3/13/26)

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."