Williams Throws Career-High 15 Ks in 5-0 Win Over Hawkeyes

3/29/2019 4:31:00 PM | Softball

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IOWA CITY, Iowa – Northwestern blanked Iowa on the road with a 5-0 win in game one fueled by a one-hitter from first year Danielle Williams in the circle.

Williams threw her fourth one-hitter and seventh shutout of the season. She dominated the Hawkeye lineup, racking up 15 total strikeouts, a career-high. Her 15 strikeouts are the most in a single game by a Wildcat pitcher since Amy Letourneau also had 15 against Campbell on Feb. 16, 2013.

The Wildcats improved to 23-7 on the season and a perfect 4-0 mark in Big Ten play. Williams now owns a 16-3 record.

First year Maeve Nelson led the team with two RBI in a balanced offensive effort. She went 2-4 and has now reached base in 11 straight contests. Classmate Jordyn Rudd was the other multi-hit Wildcat on the afternoon, going 2-4 with an RBI as well.

Senior Lily Novak notched an RBI for NU, while Rachel Lewis, Morgan Nelson and Skyler Shellmyer each picked up a hit.

The #B1GCats opened the scoring in the second inning thanks to some heads-up baserunning from junior Emma Bartz. Junior Morgan Newport reached base with a leadoff walk, and Bartz pinch ran, scoring on a single from Rudd and a throwing error to make it 1-0. The 'Cats are 12-0 when Bartz crosses home plate and 16-2 when they score first.

The game turned into a pitchers' duel the rest of the way, but Williams was up to the task, retiring 14 straight batters after a HBP in the first inning. She was working on a no-hitter until a bloop single earned the Hawkeyes their second base-runner in the sixth.

The Wildcats added some insurance with four runs in the top of the seventh. Shellmyer singled, Lewis walked and Morgan Nelson loaded the bases with a perfectly executed bunt down the third base line.

After Shellmyer scored on a passed ball, Maeve Nelson ripped a ball into right field to bring home Lewis and Mo. Nelson to make it 4-0. The 'Cats added their final run after Eva Stees worked her way around the bases to score on a ground ball from Novak.

Chicago's Big Ten Team heads back out to face the Hawkeyes in game two tomorrow, with first pitch being set for 1 p.m. CT.

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