#B1GCats Open Weekend With 4-1 Win Over No. 25 Wisconsin

4/12/2019 9:35:00 PM | Softball

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EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern started the weekend on the right note Friday afternoon with a 4-1 win over No. 25 Wisconsin in game one of a three-game series.

The #B1GCats improved to a perfect 10-0 in Big Ten Play for the first time since 2005 and are now 31-7 on the year, matching the best start of the Kate Drohan era. With the win, Northwestern improved its winning streak to nine games, while also snapping the Badgers' eight-game winning streak.

Danielle Williams earned her 20th win of the season while tossing her 18th complete game. The rookie southpaw allowed just one run and four hits over 7.0 innings while striking out nine. She also drove in the eventual game-winning run with an RBI-single in the second inning.

This marks the second-consecutive season a Wildcat rookie has reached the 20 win milestone, with Kenna Wilkey also having done so last year. Williams is just the ninth Wildcat pitcher since 2000, and the third first-year, to record 20 wins or more in a season.

Seven different Wildcats reached base on the day, despite Northwestern combining for only three hits. The Wildcats drew nine walks on the afternoon, one shy of their season high, and forced the Badger pitchers to throw over 150 pitches in just 6.0 innings.

The Badgers struck first with a solo homer in the top of the second inning, but the 'Cats did not wait long to bounce back in the bottom of the frame as Lily Novak drove in Emma Bartz with an RBI-single through the left side to tie the game. The next at-bat, Williams drove a single to right field to bring home Jordyn Rudd and give the Wildcats the lead which they would never relinquish. Following Wisconsin's lone homer to lead off the second inning, Williams allowed just two hits over her final 6.0 innings of work.

The #B1GCats added two insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth after Morgan Nelson led the inning off with a walk to cap off a marathon 14-pitch at-bat. Maeve Nelson reached on the next at-bat via a throwing error, and Jordyn Rudd later drove both in thanks to another Badger error. Rudd was credited with one RBI on the play, extending her total to a team-high 35 on the year.

Both Morgan Newport and Morgan Nelson extended their on-base streaks. Newport drew a walk in the third inning to extend her reached base streak to 15-consecutive games. Nelson extended her reached base streak to 12 games with her walk in the fifth inning,

The teams will wrap up the series tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. CT, with the second game starting 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one. Saturday's first game will also feature a hospitality package that includes a ticket to the game and unlimited access to the hospitality area, complete with tailgating activities, light snacks and adult beverages beginning at noon. Hospitality ticket packages can be bought here.