Northwestern University Athletics
Williams Named Top 25 Finalist For NFCA Freshman of the Year
4/18/2019 11:02:00 AM | Softball
EVANSTON, Ill. – First-year pitcher Danielle Williams has been named a Top 25 candidate for the Schutt Sports/NFCA National Freshman of the Year Award, the organization announced on Thursday.
The rookie from Pleasanton, Calif. has wasted no time this season establishing herself as one of the most dominant arms in the nation. Entering this weekend, Williams holds a 21-3 record in 28 appearances (21 starts). Her 1.16 ERA (25 ER/151.1 IP), .163 opposing batting average and 202 strikeouts lead all Big Ten pitchers. Her 10 shutouts on the season are tied for the second-most in the country and are already the most by a #B1GCats rookie since 1984.
Williams set the tone from her very first collegiate start against Pacific on February 8, when she finished just one out short of a no-hitter in a one-hit complete game shutout, followed by a two-hit shutout the next day. She carried that dominance over into Big Ten play, at one point accumulating a 34.0-consecutive scoreless inning streak in conference matchups from March 23-April 12.
Other highlights from a stellar first-year campaign include a 15-strikeout spectacle at Iowa on March 29, the most by a Wildcat arm since 2013, along with a complete game victory against No. 25 Wisconsin on April 13 when she struck out 12 over 10.0 innings, marking the longest outing by a Big Ten pitch this season.
Williams has been honored with a Big Ten weekly award seven times this season, winning the league's Pitcher of the Week nod three times while also picking up four Freshman of the Week honors. This marks the second-consecutive season a Wildcat has been named a Top 25 candidate for this award, as Rachel Lewis finished as a Top 10 candidate for the award in 2018.
On May 9, the list will be trimmed down to the Top 10, while the top three finalists will be selected and released on May 21. The Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year trophy will be presented during a live ceremony at the Women's College World Series banquet on May 28.
No. 23 Northwestern is back in action this weekend as they open a three game series against Purdue at Sharon J. Drysdale Field beginning Friday, with first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m. CT.
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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 rookie from Pleasanton, Calif. has wasted no time this season establishing herself as one of the most dominant arms in the nation. Entering this weekend, Williams holds a 21-3 record in 28 appearances (21 starts). Her 1.16 ERA (25 ER/151.1 IP), .163 opposing batting average and 202 strikeouts lead all Big Ten pitchers. Her 10 shutouts on the season are tied for the second-most in the country and are already the most by a #B1GCats rookie since 1984.
Williams set the tone from her very first collegiate start against Pacific on February 8, when she finished just one out short of a no-hitter in a one-hit complete game shutout, followed by a two-hit shutout the next day. She carried that dominance over into Big Ten play, at one point accumulating a 34.0-consecutive scoreless inning streak in conference matchups from March 23-April 12.
Other highlights from a stellar first-year campaign include a 15-strikeout spectacle at Iowa on March 29, the most by a Wildcat arm since 2013, along with a complete game victory against No. 25 Wisconsin on April 13 when she struck out 12 over 10.0 innings, marking the longest outing by a Big Ten pitch this season.
Williams has been honored with a Big Ten weekly award seven times this season, winning the league's Pitcher of the Week nod three times while also picking up four Freshman of the Week honors. This marks the second-consecutive season a Wildcat has been named a Top 25 candidate for this award, as Rachel Lewis finished as a Top 10 candidate for the award in 2018.
On May 9, the list will be trimmed down to the Top 10, while the top three finalists will be selected and released on May 21. The Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year trophy will be presented during a live ceremony at the Women's College World Series banquet on May 28.
No. 23 Northwestern is back in action this weekend as they open a three game series against Purdue at Sharon J. Drysdale Field beginning Friday, with first pitch scheduled for 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!
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