Northwestern University Athletics
Williams Earns Second Big Ten Weekly Honor
3/4/2019 2:54:00 PM | Softball
EVANSTON, Ill. – First-year pitcher Danielle Williams earned her second Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor following her performance last weekend at the Stanford Invitational, the conference announced on Monday.
Williams played a key role in three games during Northwestern's trip to Palo Alto, in which the Wildcats went 3-1 and outscored their opponents 17-3. She went 1-1 in the circle but was dominant as she allowed no earned runs in 13.0 innings across two starts while striking out 21.
In the Wildcats' first game of the weekend against Cal Poly, she contributed at the plate as a pinch hitter by hitting a two-RBI double as part of the Wildcats' five-run rally in the sixth inning.
On Friday night, she threw 6.0 innings against Stanford in a 1-0 defeat, allowing four hits, one unearned run and a walk while striking out nine. She followed that up on Sunday by throwing a complete game shutout against Montana, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out 12.
The first-year from Pleasanton, Calif. improved to 10-2 on the year, tied for the most wins by a first-year in the nation, while lowering her season ERA to 0.81 (8 ER/69.1 IP). Her 84 strikeouts rank third in the conference, while her three shutouts on the season are tied for the most in the Big Ten and lead all first-year players in the country.
The entire Northwestern pitching staff turned in a phenomenal all-around weekend, as the #B1GCats' pitchers finished with a combined 0.26 ERA (1 ER/27.0 IP) along with 38 strikeouts in four games. Kaley Winegarner got the 'Cats off to a strong start against Cal Poly on Friday by allowing just one earned run in 3.1 innings while stranding four runners on base. Kenna Wilkey came in to finish the game off, retiring all 11 batters she faced, and then tossed a two-hit gem against North Dakota State on Saturday while striking out a season-high 10 batters.
Through four weeks of action this season, Williams is now the first player in the conference to win multiple Freshman of the Week honors, as she also won on February 11 following Northwestern's trip to the Titan Classic. She is also the first NU player to win Freshman of the Week twice in a season since Rachel Lewis did so last year.
Northwestern is 14-4 on the season, tied for its best start since 2004 and for the best start since Kate Drohantook over as head coach in 2002. The Wildcats will return to action next weekend when they travel to Norman, Okla. to play five games.
Williams played a key role in three games during Northwestern's trip to Palo Alto, in which the Wildcats went 3-1 and outscored their opponents 17-3. She went 1-1 in the circle but was dominant as she allowed no earned runs in 13.0 innings across two starts while striking out 21.
In the Wildcats' first game of the weekend against Cal Poly, she contributed at the plate as a pinch hitter by hitting a two-RBI double as part of the Wildcats' five-run rally in the sixth inning.
On Friday night, she threw 6.0 innings against Stanford in a 1-0 defeat, allowing four hits, one unearned run and a walk while striking out nine. She followed that up on Sunday by throwing a complete game shutout against Montana, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out 12.
The first-year from Pleasanton, Calif. improved to 10-2 on the year, tied for the most wins by a first-year in the nation, while lowering her season ERA to 0.81 (8 ER/69.1 IP). Her 84 strikeouts rank third in the conference, while her three shutouts on the season are tied for the most in the Big Ten and lead all first-year players in the country.
The entire Northwestern pitching staff turned in a phenomenal all-around weekend, as the #B1GCats' pitchers finished with a combined 0.26 ERA (1 ER/27.0 IP) along with 38 strikeouts in four games. Kaley Winegarner got the 'Cats off to a strong start against Cal Poly on Friday by allowing just one earned run in 3.1 innings while stranding four runners on base. Kenna Wilkey came in to finish the game off, retiring all 11 batters she faced, and then tossed a two-hit gem against North Dakota State on Saturday while striking out a season-high 10 batters.
Through four weeks of action this season, Williams is now the first player in the conference to win multiple Freshman of the Week honors, as she also won on February 11 following Northwestern's trip to the Titan Classic. She is also the first NU player to win Freshman of the Week twice in a season since Rachel Lewis did so last year.
Northwestern is 14-4 on the season, tied for its best start since 2004 and for the best start since Kate Drohantook over as head coach in 2002. The Wildcats will return to action next weekend when they travel to Norman, Okla. to play five games.
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