Northwestern University Athletics
Wednesday, April 25
Evanston, Ill.
4 p.m. CT
Northwestern
30-13
4
vs
1
Loyola (Chicago)
21-23
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Loyola (Chicago)
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
3
1
Northwestern
1
1
1
0
0
1
X
4
4
1
Photo by: Stephen J. Carrera
Northwestern Wins Eighth Straight With 4-1 Victory Over Loyola (Chicago)
4/25/2018 5:57:00 PM | Softball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern ran its current winning streak to eight games Wednesday with an efficient 4-1 dispatching of the Loyola Ramblers at Sharon J. Drysdale Field.
Northwestern now is 30-13 overall on the season while Loyola (Chicago) is 21-23 on the year.
Senior Weekend comes to Evanston this Friday through Sunday, April 27-29, when Iowa arrives for a three-game Big Ten set. First pitch Friday is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT while Saturday's start is at 1 p.m. Following the Saturday game, Northwestern will hold its 12th annual Purple Auction at the Segal Visitor's Center on campus beginning at 6:30 p.m. For more information on the auction, visit NUsports.com/PurpleAuction.
Senior Day festivities on Sunday will start 15 minutes prior to a noon CT first pitch.
BUY YOUR NORTHWESTERN TICKETS HERE!
Wildcats starter Morgan Newport needed just seven pitches to get through a 1-2-3 top of the first inning, and the Northwestern offense got on the board nearly as quickly. Sabrina Rabin led off the game with a walk and a steal of second base (her 30th stolen base of the season) before moving to third on a Rachel Lewis groundout. Morgan Nelson flew out to medium center field, and it was plenty deep for the quick Rabin to race home for a 1-0 NU lead.
More speed added another run for the 'Cats in the second. Marissa Panko led off the frame with a single into right field, stole second AND third base, and scooted home when the Loyola catcher threw the ball into left field on Panko's swipe of third.
Newport continued her cruise during the first trip through the Loyola order, fanning the side in the top of the third to reach five Ks for the game. Then, with two outs in the bottom of the inning, Rachel Lewis did Rachel Lewis things, lining her 16th home run of the season hard off the wall of Welsh-Ryan Arena to make it a 3-0 contest.
The Ramblers broke Newport's spell with a double to start the fourth, accounting for the first hit and first base runner against the Wildcats starter. That Rambler scored later in the inning on a Northwestern throwing error to cut the Wildcats' lead to two, 3-1.
The game settled into a serious pitchers' duel after the run in the top of the fourth. NU eliminated a Rambler on base in the fifth thanks to a great catch of a liner in right from Brooke Marquez, who then threw behind the runner to double her up. Northwestern and Newport also stranded a two-out Rambler double in the sixth.
Loyola starter Madison Veres retired NU in order in the fourth and fifth after allowing single runs in each of the first three innings of the game. Northwestern broke through again against her in the sixth, beginning with a massive Rabin leadoff triple. Lewis calmly stroked an RBI single into left to bring Rabin home, making it a 4-1 game. At that point, the Ramblers replaced Veres with Keenan Dolezal. Lewis stole second for her 20th swipe of the season, moved to third on a Sammy Nettling groundout but finished the frame standing there.
Newport was perfect again in the seventh, finishing the game with her seventh strikeout of the contest. Her seven Ks in the game matched her career best set last year…against Loyola. Newport now is 11-5 on the year after allowing one unearned run on three hits and a walk.
At the plate, Lewis went 2-for-3 with two RBIs while Rabin was 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored. Panko swiped two bases.
Northwestern now is 30-13 overall on the season while Loyola (Chicago) is 21-23 on the year.
Senior Weekend comes to Evanston this Friday through Sunday, April 27-29, when Iowa arrives for a three-game Big Ten set. First pitch Friday is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT while Saturday's start is at 1 p.m. Following the Saturday game, Northwestern will hold its 12th annual Purple Auction at the Segal Visitor's Center on campus beginning at 6:30 p.m. For more information on the auction, visit NUsports.com/PurpleAuction.
Senior Day festivities on Sunday will start 15 minutes prior to a noon CT first pitch.
BUY YOUR NORTHWESTERN TICKETS HERE!
.@NUSBcats eliminated Loyola Chicago today in Evanston 4-1! Watch the recap here! #B1GCats pic.twitter.com/kn6QYYR3FM
— BTN Student U (@BTNStudentU) April 25, 2018
Wildcats starter Morgan Newport needed just seven pitches to get through a 1-2-3 top of the first inning, and the Northwestern offense got on the board nearly as quickly. Sabrina Rabin led off the game with a walk and a steal of second base (her 30th stolen base of the season) before moving to third on a Rachel Lewis groundout. Morgan Nelson flew out to medium center field, and it was plenty deep for the quick Rabin to race home for a 1-0 NU lead.
More speed added another run for the 'Cats in the second. Marissa Panko led off the frame with a single into right field, stole second AND third base, and scooted home when the Loyola catcher threw the ball into left field on Panko's swipe of third.
Newport continued her cruise during the first trip through the Loyola order, fanning the side in the top of the third to reach five Ks for the game. Then, with two outs in the bottom of the inning, Rachel Lewis did Rachel Lewis things, lining her 16th home run of the season hard off the wall of Welsh-Ryan Arena to make it a 3-0 contest.
Touch 'em all!! .@NUSBcats' Rachel Lewis drops a solo ?? to put the 'Cats up 3-0! #B1GCats pic.twitter.com/RxdJ9cgcwV
— BTN Student U (@BTNStudentU) April 25, 2018
The Ramblers broke Newport's spell with a double to start the fourth, accounting for the first hit and first base runner against the Wildcats starter. That Rambler scored later in the inning on a Northwestern throwing error to cut the Wildcats' lead to two, 3-1.
The game settled into a serious pitchers' duel after the run in the top of the fourth. NU eliminated a Rambler on base in the fifth thanks to a great catch of a liner in right from Brooke Marquez, who then threw behind the runner to double her up. Northwestern and Newport also stranded a two-out Rambler double in the sixth.
Loyola starter Madison Veres retired NU in order in the fourth and fifth after allowing single runs in each of the first three innings of the game. Northwestern broke through again against her in the sixth, beginning with a massive Rabin leadoff triple. Lewis calmly stroked an RBI single into left to bring Rabin home, making it a 4-1 game. At that point, the Ramblers replaced Veres with Keenan Dolezal. Lewis stole second for her 20th swipe of the season, moved to third on a Sammy Nettling groundout but finished the frame standing there.
Newport was perfect again in the seventh, finishing the game with her seventh strikeout of the contest. Her seven Ks in the game matched her career best set last year…against Loyola. Newport now is 11-5 on the year after allowing one unearned run on three hits and a walk.
At the plate, Lewis went 2-for-3 with two RBIs while Rabin was 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored. Panko swiped two bases.
••••••
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 (11-5)
L: Veres, Madison (0-2)
Batting:
2B: McGee, Shannon 1 ; Kasubke, Katie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: McGee, Shannon 1
Batting:
3B: Rabin, Sabrina 1
HR: Lewis, Rachel 1
RBI: Lewis, Rachel 2 ; Nelson, Morgan 1
SF: Nelson, Morgan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rabin, Sabrina 2 ; Lewis, Rachel 1 ; Panko, Marissa 1
SB: Rabin, Sabrina 1 ; Lewis, Rachel 1 ; Panko, Marissa 2
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
2
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
0
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
IF/OF
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballIF/C
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
P/U
/ SoftballIF/OF
/ SoftballOF
/ 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
