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."
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."