Northwestern University Athletics
Saturday, April 13
Evanston, Ill.
1 p.m. CT
Northwestern
32-7, 0
8
vs
5
Wisconsin
30-7, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Wisconsin
1
3
0
1
0
0
0
5
5
1
Northwestern
3
0
0
5
0
0
X
8
5
0
First Place #B1GCats Walk Off Wisconsin For Series Sweep
4/13/2019 7:48:00 PM | Softball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern continued to dominate Big Ten competitions as took both games of a doubleheader on Saturday to complete a three-game series sweep over No. 25 Wisconsin.
The Wildcats won the first game, 8-5, then outlasted the Badgers in a season-long 10 inning marathon in which senior Lily Novak hit a walk-off home run over the left field wall to secure a 5-4 victory.
Northwestern improves to 33-7 on the year, marking its best record through 40 games in the Kate Drohan era, while extending its winning streak to a season-high 11-straight wins. The 'Cats are now 12-0 in Big Ten play and are in sole possession of first place in the conference following this weekend's action.
In game one, the Wildcats came out swinging after giving up a run in the top of the first, adding three of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Senior Morgan Nelson started the scoring for Northwestern, ripping a double to the right-center wall to tie the game. Two batters later, Morgan Newport hit an opposite field two-run home run, to give Northwestern a 3-2 lead.
Wisconsin took the lead right back in the top of the 2nd, eventually putting the 'Cats in a 5-3 hole, however the Northwestern bats came alive again in the home half of the fourth. After two walks by Newport and Lily Novak, Danielle Williams rolled a single through the right side of the infield to cut the Badger lead to one.
With two on and two outs, Rachel Lewis unleashed on a ball and sent it over the right field wall to put Northwestern ahead 7-5. Morgan Nelson followed Lewis with another bomb to right, extending the lead to 8-5.
The Lewis-Nelson back-to-back jacks put the 'Cats in the lead for good. They were able to coast the rest of the way behind a stellar pitching performance from Kaley Winegarner, who earned her fourth win of the season and held the Badgers to one hit after coming in during the second inning. Newport relieved Winegarner and no-hit Wisconsin through the final 2.1 innings, grabbing her first save of 2019.
In game two, the Wildcats fell behind one in the top of the third, but wasted no time taking the lead away from the Badgers. After a Skyler Shellmyer walk, Rachel Lewis sent another ball into the right field bleachers to give Northwestern a 2-1 lead. The runs kept coming in the third, after a Morgan Nelson walk, Maeve Nelson hit a moonshot on to the roof of Welsh-Ryan arena to increase the lead to three. Nelson is now the second Wildcat this season to join the prestigious Welsh-Ryan Arena "Roof Club", with Rachel Lewis having done so earlier in the season. She is just the eighth different NU player to hit a ball onto the roof in the 34-year history of Sharon J. Drysdale Field.
Wisconsin clawed their way back into the game, tying it at 4-4, but Northwestern's stellar defense and pitching never let the Badgers score more than one run in an inning.
Williams went the distance, throwing all 10 frames and earning her 21st win of the season. She tallied 12 strikeouts along the way, making this her 8th game this season with double-digit strikeouts.
Novak led off the bottom of the 10th and rocketed a pitch over the left field fence for her third homer and 20th RBI of the season.
Chicago's Big Ten Team is back in action this weekend with a three game series against Purdue at Sharon J. Drysdale Field. First pitch is scheduled for Friday at 4 p.m. CT.
••••••
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.
The Wildcats won the first game, 8-5, then outlasted the Badgers in a season-long 10 inning marathon in which senior Lily Novak hit a walk-off home run over the left field wall to secure a 5-4 victory.
Northwestern improves to 33-7 on the year, marking its best record through 40 games in the Kate Drohan era, while extending its winning streak to a season-high 11-straight wins. The 'Cats are now 12-0 in Big Ten play and are in sole possession of first place in the conference following this weekend's action.
In game one, the Wildcats came out swinging after giving up a run in the top of the first, adding three of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Senior Morgan Nelson started the scoring for Northwestern, ripping a double to the right-center wall to tie the game. Two batters later, Morgan Newport hit an opposite field two-run home run, to give Northwestern a 3-2 lead.
Wisconsin took the lead right back in the top of the 2nd, eventually putting the 'Cats in a 5-3 hole, however the Northwestern bats came alive again in the home half of the fourth. After two walks by Newport and Lily Novak, Danielle Williams rolled a single through the right side of the infield to cut the Badger lead to one.
With two on and two outs, Rachel Lewis unleashed on a ball and sent it over the right field wall to put Northwestern ahead 7-5. Morgan Nelson followed Lewis with another bomb to right, extending the lead to 8-5.
The Lewis-Nelson back-to-back jacks put the 'Cats in the lead for good. They were able to coast the rest of the way behind a stellar pitching performance from Kaley Winegarner, who earned her fourth win of the season and held the Badgers to one hit after coming in during the second inning. Newport relieved Winegarner and no-hit Wisconsin through the final 2.1 innings, grabbing her first save of 2019.
In game two, the Wildcats fell behind one in the top of the third, but wasted no time taking the lead away from the Badgers. After a Skyler Shellmyer walk, Rachel Lewis sent another ball into the right field bleachers to give Northwestern a 2-1 lead. The runs kept coming in the third, after a Morgan Nelson walk, Maeve Nelson hit a moonshot on to the roof of Welsh-Ryan arena to increase the lead to three. Nelson is now the second Wildcat this season to join the prestigious Welsh-Ryan Arena "Roof Club", with Rachel Lewis having done so earlier in the season. She is just the eighth different NU player to hit a ball onto the roof in the 34-year history of Sharon J. Drysdale Field.
Wisconsin clawed their way back into the game, tying it at 4-4, but Northwestern's stellar defense and pitching never let the Badgers score more than one run in an inning.
Williams went the distance, throwing all 10 frames and earning her 21st win of the season. She tallied 12 strikeouts along the way, making this her 8th game this season with double-digit strikeouts.
Novak led off the bottom of the 10th and rocketed a pitch over the left field fence for her third homer and 20th RBI of the season.
Chicago's Big Ten Team is back in action this weekend with a three game series against Purdue at Sharon J. Drysdale Field. First pitch is scheduled for Friday at 4 p.m. CT.
••••••
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: Winegarner, Kaley (4-1)
L: Menz (13-4)
S: Newport, Morgan (1)
Batting:
2B: Little 1
HR: Konwent 1 ; Hedgcock 1 ; Welsh 1
RBI: Konwent 1 ; Lombardo 1 ; Hedgcock 1 ; Welsh 2
SF: Hedgcock 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Konwent 1 ; Scherle 1 ; Hedgcock 1 ; Little 1 ; Welsh 1
SB: Lawson 1
HBP: Konwent 1
Batting:
2B: Nelson, Morgan 1
HR: Lewis, Rachel 1 ; Nelson, Morgan 1 ; Newport, Morgan 1
RBI: Lewis, Rachel 3 ; Nelson, Morgan 2 ; Newport, Morgan 2 ; Williams, Danielle 1
SH: Rudd, Jordyn 1 ; Novak, Lily 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lewis, Rachel 2 ; Nelson, Morgan 2 ; Newport, Morgan 1 ; Bartz, Emma 1 ; Novak, Lily 1 ; Williams, Danielle 1
Game Leaders
AB
2
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
3
rf/p
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
ph/rf
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
IF/OF
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballIF/C
/ SoftballP/U
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballP/U
/ Softball
P
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