Wildcats Stay Perfect in Conference with Senior Day Win

4/21/2019 6:51:00 PM | Softball

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EVANSTON, Ill – No. 23 Northwestern capped off senior day with a 6-3 victory over Purdue on Sunday at to improve to 15-0 in Big Ten play for the first time in program history.

The Wildcats have now won 14 consecutive ballgames and sit first place in the Big Ten with eight games left to play, leading second place by half a game.

Before the game, the Wildcats honored three members of the senior class including Lily Novak, Morgan Nelson and graduate manager Abby Ramirez.

First year Danielle Williams continued her stellar season, striking out eight on the day while improving to 23-3 in the process.

It took a few innings to get the 'Cats offense going, but after falling behind 2-0 in the fourth inning, their bats came alive. Jordyn Rudd walked, and came all the way in to score after a Danielle Williams single and fielding error by the Boilermakers left fielder.

Skyler Shellmyer came up next, trying to move the runner over by laying down a bunt. But Purdue made another error on the throw to first. The ball escaped all the way down the right field line and Shellmyer's speed did the rest, coming all the way in to score to give the 'Cats a 3-2 lead.

Northwestern added another run in the fourth after a Maeve Nelson RBI-single to increase the lead to 4-2.

Although the Boilermakers scored one more run in the fifth, Northwestern answered right back, scoring two insurance runs in the bottom half of the frame. Rachel Lewis hit a line drive off the left field wall to bring both runs around, earning her 25th and 26th RBI this season.

Chicago's Big Ten Team is back in action at Sharon J. Drysdale Field for the last time this regular season Tuesday afternoon. The Wildcats will host a doubleheader against Illinois. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT.

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