Wednesday, March 28
Urbana, IL
3 p.m. CT
Northwestern
20-9, 3-1
8
at
7
Illinois
21-11, 2-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Northwestern
3
1
3
1
0
0
0
8
10
1
Illinois
0
0
0
0
7
0
0
7
9
2
Photo by: Jim Hilton
Pair Of Rachel Lewis Home Runs Power 'Cats Past Illini, 8-7
3/28/2018 5:45:00 PM | Softball
URBANA, Ill. – First-year Rachel Lewis turned in a two-homer performance at the plate and Northwestern staved off an incredible Illinois rally to earn an 8-7 victory in the first game of a Wednesday doubleheader on BTN.
Northwestern (20-9, 3-1 B1G) and Illinois (21-11, 2-2 B1G) return to action immediately in game two of their Wednesday doubleheader live on BTN.
BUY YOUR NORTHWESTERN TICKETS AND SEASON PASSES HERE!
Northwestern wasted little jumping on the Illini Wednesday, using all of its strengths to score first. Senior Sabrina Rabin led off the game with a single, extending her current hitting streak to 12 games. She stole second, then trotted home one out later when Lewis clobbered an absolute moonshot over the fence in left-center that elicited memories of Major League's "It's too high!" scene.
The inning continued with a Brooke Marquez walk, then Sammy Nettling smoked a double down the right-field line that senior Marquez scooting around the bases to the plate, giving the Wildcats a 3-0 lead before starter Morgan Newport took the circle for the first time (where she retired the Illini side in order).
Marissa Panko added a tally to the Northwestern total in the second, crushing a double off the base of the wall in right-center to drive in Mac Dunlap, who had flexed into the lineup for Kenna Wilkey following a single. Panko's punch pushed Illinois starter Emily Oestreich out of the circle in favor of Akilah Mouzon, who ended the inning on the next pitch.
With the score now 4-0, Northwestern did not let up in the third. Morgan Nelson and Marquez started the inning with back-to-back singles, ending up at second and third with no outs when the right fielder briefly booted the Marquez ball for an error. Nettling followed with a dribbler on the infield that was slow enough to plate Nelson on an out. Later on, Lily Novak walked and she and Marquez pulled off a picture-perfect double steal to allow Marquez to swipe home. Still later, Dunlap put a ball in play that was booted and Novak raced all the way around, making it a 7-0 game.
Illinois had its best threat of the game in the third, getting runners to second and third with two outs against Newport. The NU sophomore was able to get the Illinois No. 3 batter to pop out on the infield, though, to strand both.
Speaking of Lewis (we weren't…but now we are and for good reason), if the first-year's first home run of the game was a moonshot, the second was a frickin' laser beam. With one out in the fourth, Lewis sent a low line drive screaming out of Eichelberger Field to push the game into run-rule territory, 8-0.
The home runs were Lewis' ninth and 10th of the season to give her four in Big Ten play in just four games of action. She now has a couple of two-homer games in league play after also pounding a pair out of the park last Saturday against Minnesota.
Illinois inserted Danielle Brochu into the circle in relief of Mouzon to start the fifth, and Brochu was able to keep NU scoreless for the first time in the game thanks in part of a nifty hop and a 5-3 double play.
In the bottom of the fifth, Newport had the Illini down to their final out before their prolific offense lit up. With two runners aboard via an error and a single, a three-run home run staved off the run rule. Illinois then added a pair of two-run home runs to suddenly make it a one-run ballgame on seven unearned runs. Wilkey entered the circle in relief after the third homer, and notched a strikeout to send the game into the sixth.
After Illinois stunted a Northwestern rally in the sixth with a 5-3 double play off a wicked Lewis line drive, the Illini threatened to tie in the bottom half. Illinois got runners to the corners with two outs in the frame, but Wilkey was able to induce a harmless grounder to Lewis to end the inning.
In the top of the seventh, Nelson and Marquez drew leadoff walks, prompting Illinois to re-enter its starting pitcher Oestreich. She got a strikeout of the first Wildcat she faced before Novak also walked to load the bases. Oestreich was able to get another K and then an infield pop-up, leaving the bases loaded with Wildcats.
In the bottom of the seventh, Wilkey SLAMMED the door on any thoughts of another Illinois comeback, striking out the side to end the game.
Newport (10-3) got the win, going 4.2 innings in the start and allowing seven runs (none earned) on eight hits and a walk with four strikeouts. Wilkey picked up her second save of the year with 2.1 innings, giving up no runs on a hit and a walk with four strikeouts.
Lewis led Northwestern at the plate with her two-homer day, driving in three and scoring twice. Marquez scored twice and Nettling drove in a pair in the game.
Northwestern (20-9, 3-1 B1G) and Illinois (21-11, 2-2 B1G) return to action immediately in game two of their Wednesday doubleheader live on BTN.
BUY YOUR NORTHWESTERN TICKETS AND SEASON PASSES HERE!
Northwestern wasted little jumping on the Illini Wednesday, using all of its strengths to score first. Senior Sabrina Rabin led off the game with a single, extending her current hitting streak to 12 games. She stole second, then trotted home one out later when Lewis clobbered an absolute moonshot over the fence in left-center that elicited memories of Major League's "It's too high!" scene.
The inning continued with a Brooke Marquez walk, then Sammy Nettling smoked a double down the right-field line that senior Marquez scooting around the bases to the plate, giving the Wildcats a 3-0 lead before starter Morgan Newport took the circle for the first time (where she retired the Illini side in order).
Marissa Panko added a tally to the Northwestern total in the second, crushing a double off the base of the wall in right-center to drive in Mac Dunlap, who had flexed into the lineup for Kenna Wilkey following a single. Panko's punch pushed Illinois starter Emily Oestreich out of the circle in favor of Akilah Mouzon, who ended the inning on the next pitch.
With the score now 4-0, Northwestern did not let up in the third. Morgan Nelson and Marquez started the inning with back-to-back singles, ending up at second and third with no outs when the right fielder briefly booted the Marquez ball for an error. Nettling followed with a dribbler on the infield that was slow enough to plate Nelson on an out. Later on, Lily Novak walked and she and Marquez pulled off a picture-perfect double steal to allow Marquez to swipe home. Still later, Dunlap put a ball in play that was booted and Novak raced all the way around, making it a 7-0 game.
Illinois had its best threat of the game in the third, getting runners to second and third with two outs against Newport. The NU sophomore was able to get the Illinois No. 3 batter to pop out on the infield, though, to strand both.
Speaking of Lewis (we weren't…but now we are and for good reason), if the first-year's first home run of the game was a moonshot, the second was a frickin' laser beam. With one out in the fourth, Lewis sent a low line drive screaming out of Eichelberger Field to push the game into run-rule territory, 8-0.
The home runs were Lewis' ninth and 10th of the season to give her four in Big Ten play in just four games of action. She now has a couple of two-homer games in league play after also pounding a pair out of the park last Saturday against Minnesota.
Illinois inserted Danielle Brochu into the circle in relief of Mouzon to start the fifth, and Brochu was able to keep NU scoreless for the first time in the game thanks in part of a nifty hop and a 5-3 double play.
In the bottom of the fifth, Newport had the Illini down to their final out before their prolific offense lit up. With two runners aboard via an error and a single, a three-run home run staved off the run rule. Illinois then added a pair of two-run home runs to suddenly make it a one-run ballgame on seven unearned runs. Wilkey entered the circle in relief after the third homer, and notched a strikeout to send the game into the sixth.
After Illinois stunted a Northwestern rally in the sixth with a 5-3 double play off a wicked Lewis line drive, the Illini threatened to tie in the bottom half. Illinois got runners to the corners with two outs in the frame, but Wilkey was able to induce a harmless grounder to Lewis to end the inning.
In the top of the seventh, Nelson and Marquez drew leadoff walks, prompting Illinois to re-enter its starting pitcher Oestreich. She got a strikeout of the first Wildcat she faced before Novak also walked to load the bases. Oestreich was able to get another K and then an infield pop-up, leaving the bases loaded with Wildcats.
In the bottom of the seventh, Wilkey SLAMMED the door on any thoughts of another Illinois comeback, striking out the side to end the game.
Newport (10-3) got the win, going 4.2 innings in the start and allowing seven runs (none earned) on eight hits and a walk with four strikeouts. Wilkey picked up her second save of the year with 2.1 innings, giving up no runs on a hit and a walk with four strikeouts.
Lewis led Northwestern at the plate with her two-homer day, driving in three and scoring twice. Marquez scored twice and Nettling drove in a pair in the game.
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow@NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Newport, Morgan (10-3)
L: Emily Oestreich (11-5)
S: Wilkey, Kenna (2)
Batting:
2B: Panko, Marissa 1 ; Nettling, Sammy 1
HR: Lewis, Rachel 2
RBI: Panko, Marissa 1 ; Lewis, Rachel 3 ; Nettling, Sammy 2
SH: Rabin, Sabrina 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rabin, Sabrina 1 ; Lewis, Rachel 2 ; Nelson, Morgan 1 ; Marquez, Brooke 2 ; Novak, Lily 1 ; Dunlap, Mac 1
SB: Rabin, Sabrina 1 ; Marquez, Brooke 1 ; Novak, Lily 1
Batting:
2B: Maddi Doane 1 ; Leigh Farina 1
HR: Carly Thomas 1 ; Veronica Ruelius 1 ; Alexis Carrillo 1
RBI: Carly Thomas 3 ; Veronica Ruelius 2 ; Alexis Carrillo 2
SH: Kiana Sherlund 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sam Acosta 1 ; Carly Thomas 1 ; Stephanie Abello 1 ; Veronica Ruelius 1 ; Maddi Doane 1 ; Alexis Carrillo 1 ; Rhein Trochim 1
SB: Kiana Sherlund 1 ; Sam Acosta 1 ; Jill Nicklas 1
HBP: Stephanie Abello 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
3
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
IF
/ SoftballIF/OF
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballIF/C
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
P/U
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballIF/OF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballSoftball - Lauren Boyd Tosses Complete Game Shutout, 'Cats Blank Kentucky in NCAA Regional (5/16/25)
Friday, May 16
Softball - 'Cats Storm Back, Secure Series Victory at No. 8 UCLA (5/4/25)
Sunday, May 04
Softball - 'Cats Earn 8-0 Run-Rule Win at No. 8 UCLA (5/2/25)
Saturday, May 03
Softball - Kaylie Avvisato Hits Walk-Off Home Run, 'Cats Take Series vs. Wisconsin (4/27/25)
Sunday, April 27
