Friday, March 23
Evanston, Ill.
3 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
Minnesota
NU Opens Big Ten, Home Schedules Against Minnesota
3/21/2018 1:21:00 PM | Softball
| NORTHWESTERN SOFTBALL: Big Ten Schedule Begins | ||||||
| DATE | OPPONENT | TIME | LOCATION | COVERAGE | LIVE STATS | |
| Friday, March 23 | Minnesota | 3 p.m. CT | Drysdale Field Evanston, lll. |
BTN Plus Video | Live Stats | |
| Saturday, March 24 | Minnesota | 1 p.m. CT | Drysdale Field Evanston, lll. |
BTN Plus Video | Live Stats | |
| Sunday, March 25 | Minnesota | Noon CT | Drysdale Field Evanston, lll. |
BTN TV BTN2Go Stream |
Live Stats | |
| Wednesday, March 28 |
Illinois | 3 p.m. CT | Eichelberger Field Champaign, lll. |
BTN TV BTN2Go Stream |
Live Stats | |
| Wednesday, March 28 |
Illinois | 5:30 p.m. CT | Eichelberger Field Champaign, lll. |
BTN TV BTN2Go Stream |
Live Stats | |
| Social: Twitter (@NUSBCats and @NU_SportsLive) | Instagram (nusbcats) | Facebook Game Notes: Northwestern | TICKETS |
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- Riding an eight-game winning streak, Northwestern returns to Evanston this weekend to open its Big Ten and Sharon J. Drysdale Field schedules March 23-25 against Minnesota.
The Wildcats and Golden Gophers begin the conference season at 3 p.m. CT Friday, March 23, before continuing the series at 1 p.m. CT Saturday and noon CT Sunday. The first two games of the series will be streamed live via BTN Plus on BTN2Go, with WNUR alumni Dan Platt, Frank Tormey and Dr. Greg Bobak on the calls. Sunday's game is live on BTN and BTN2Go.
Northwestern has turned its hot conclusion to the pre-conference season into a 17-8 overall record and a top-40 RPI in the first official NCAA rankings that came out Monday. The Wildcats have faced the nation's 19th-toughest non-conference schedule and now turn their attention to a stacked Big Ten slate beginning this weekend against the defending conference champion Gophers.
Three-time All-Big Ten selection and 2015 league Rookie of the Year Sabrina Rabin remains as reliable as ever as the catalyst atop the NU lineup, currently leading the team with a .366 average and 18 stolen bases, which puts her in the top-30 nationally. Behind her, first-year Rachel Lewis has made an early name for herself as a source of power and speed entering her first conference season. She already has won a pair of Big Ten weekly honors.
As a team, Northwestern ranks second in the league in runs per game and is first in on-base percentage and steals, consistently creating scoring opportunities for itself. In the circle, sophomore Morgan Newport and first-year Kenna Wilkey have emerged as co-aces for the 'Cats, with each spinning a pair of a shutouts over NU's last eight games.
NU is heavy on experience in the lineup, and that experience has been a huge part of the Wildcats recent success. During Northwestern's current eight-game winning streak, senior Sammy Nettling is batting .375, junior Morgan Nelson is hitting .357 with three home runs and senior Brooke Marquez is batting .333.
NORTHWESTERN SOFTBALL HOME TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!
The Wildcats (No. 38) and Gophers (No. 31) are two of EIGHT Big Ten teams that appear inside the top-50 of the first NCAA RPI rankings of the year, which indicates the conference is in for an exciting and deep league season. In addition to Minnesota, Ohio State (No. 14), Nebraska (No. 19) and Iowa (No. 41) all travel to Evanston this season, giving NU its best home schedule in recent memory. Season passes are available now!
Following this weekend, Northwestern heads to Illinois (RPI No. 50) for a March 28 doubleheader to be broadcast live on BTN before returning home March 30-April 1 to host the Cornhuskers.
PROGRAMMING NOTE
Below is a coverage schedule for the remainder of the season. In addition to this coverage, EVERY GAME will have live stats and live tweets at NUsports.com and @NUSBCats on Twitter.
MINNESOTA SERIES (March 23-25)
March 23-24 will be streamed on BTN Plus on BTN2Go. March 25 will be televised live on BTN and BTN2Go. For BTN Plus on BTN2Go, Cost is $9.95 for a monthly pass for Northwestern games.
ILLINOIS DOUBLEHEADER (March 28)
Both games will be televised live on BTN and BTN2Go
NEBRASKA SERIES (March 20-April 1)
All games will be streamed on BTN Plus on BTN2Go
PURDUE SERIES (April 6-8)
All games will be streamed on BTN Plus on BTN2Go
OHIO STATE SERIES (April 13-15)
April 13 will be televised live on BTN and BTN2Go.
April 14-15 will be streamed on BTN Plus on BTN2Go
RUTGERS SERIES (April 20-22)
All games will be streamed on BTN Plus on BTN2Go
IOWA SERIES (April 27-29)
All games will be streamed on BTN Plus on BTN2Go
WISCONSIN SERIES (May 4-6)
All games will be streamed on BTN Plus on BTN2Go
NON-CONFERENCE GAMES
Both home games will be streamed on BTN Plus on BTN2Go. Both away games will have Studio N audio, which is a subscription product. Cost is $3.95 for a 24-hour pass.
PLAY BALL!
For a complete season preview and notes on this weekend's Big Ten-opening series, download our Game Notes available here and in the chart at the top of this page.
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Players Mentioned
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