Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Tom Lynn
Northwestern Starts 2019 With a Bang Over Utah State
2/8/2019 1:51:00 PM | Softball
FULLERTON, Calif. – Northwestern opened its 2019 season with a bang on Friday, dropping Utah State, 12-0, after five innings by run-rule at the Titan Classic for their first shutout in a season opener since 2009.
Sophomore Kenna Wilkey tossed a one-hit shutout with seven strikeouts and no walks in a sterling debut for her first win of the season.
Sophomore Rachel Lewis picked up where she left off in 2018 with a home run and a double in two at-bats for three RBI. Lewis went deep in her very first plate appearance of the game.
First year catcher Jordyn Rudd made quite the impression in her Wildcat debut, going 2 for 3 at the dish with three RBI on two doubles. The three other first-year starters, Nikki Cuchran, Maeve Nelson and Skyler Shellmyer picked up at least an RBI in their debut.
Morgan Nelson, Cuchran, Rudd and Lewis all collected multi-hit days for head coach Kate Drohan's squad, which exploded for 11 hits. Morgan Nelson and Lewis each picked up a steal.
Northwestern will finish their double-header at 2:30 p.m. central time against Pacific on day one of the season. Fans can watch on Flosoftball.com or follow along to @NUSBCats on Twitter for updates.
Sophomore Kenna Wilkey tossed a one-hit shutout with seven strikeouts and no walks in a sterling debut for her first win of the season.
Sophomore Rachel Lewis picked up where she left off in 2018 with a home run and a double in two at-bats for three RBI. Lewis went deep in her very first plate appearance of the game.
First year catcher Jordyn Rudd made quite the impression in her Wildcat debut, going 2 for 3 at the dish with three RBI on two doubles. The three other first-year starters, Nikki Cuchran, Maeve Nelson and Skyler Shellmyer picked up at least an RBI in their debut.
Morgan Nelson, Cuchran, Rudd and Lewis all collected multi-hit days for head coach Kate Drohan's squad, which exploded for 11 hits. Morgan Nelson and Lewis each picked up a steal.
Northwestern will finish their double-header at 2:30 p.m. central time against Pacific on day one of the season. Fans can watch on Flosoftball.com or follow along to @NUSBCats on Twitter for updates.
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Pitching:
W: Wilkey, Kenna (1-0)
L: HULL, Delane (0-1)
Batting:
2B: LEWIS, Baile 1
SF: REED, Stepha 1
Base Running:
HBP: BOLIN, Kenzi 1

Batting:
2B: Lewis, Rachel 1 ; Nelson, Morgan 1 ; Rudd, Jordyn 2 ; Novak, Lily 1
HR: Lewis, Rachel 1
RBI: Shellmyer, Skyler 1 ; Lewis, Rachel 3 ; Nelson, Morgan 1 ; Cuchran, Nikki 2 ; Nelson, Maeve 1 ; Wilkey, Kenna 1 ; Rudd, Jordyn 3
SF: Cuchran, Nikki 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Shellmyer, Skyler 1 ; Lewis, Rachel 3 ; Nelson, Morgan 1 ; Cuchran, Nikki 1 ; Bartz, Emma 1 ; Newport, Morgan 1 ; Nelson, Maeve 1 ; Wilkey, Kenna 1 ; Rudd, Jordyn 1 ; Novak, Lily 1
SB: Lewis, Rachel 1 ; Nelson, Morgan 1
HBP: Newport, Morgan 1
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