Wildcats Rebound Against SIU to Advance to Regional Final on Sunday

Saturday, May 18

Northwestern

45-11

Southern Illinois

34-15

Northwestern

Southern Illinois

Wildcats Rebound Against SIU to Advance to Regional Final on Sunday

5/19/2019 12:03:00 AM | Softball

Box Score Postgame Press Conference Box Score (PDF)

EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern rebounded on Saturday to defeat Southern Illinois, 8-1, in an elimination game late Saturday night in its NCAA Regional.

The Wildcats will play in the Regional Final tomorrow against Louisville, needing two straight wins against the Cardinals to advance to an NCAA Super Regional. First pitch for tomorrow is set for 1 p.m. CT

Sophomore Kenna Wilkey earned the win with a stellar outing in the circle, throwing a complete game and allowing just one run and five hits while striking out three. She also supported her cause with a grand slam in the seventh inning, her second home run of the Regional.

Morgan Newport served as the offensive sparkplug on the night, going 4-for-4 with a season-high tying three RBI including a two-run home run and two doubles. The junior finished one base shy of a cycle with her second double coming in the seventh inning.

First years Nikki Cuchran and Jordyn Rudd each had two hits as well. Skyler Shellmyer earned an RBI with a bases loaded walk and also laced a triple off the wall in the seventh.

After ending the bottom of the first inning with a key double play, the 'Cats jumped out to an early lead in the top of the second thanks to four-straight runners reaching base. Cuchran opened the inning with a single through the right side; Emma Bartz pinch ran and later came around to score via an RBI-double down the left field line. Later that inning, Shellmyer ended an eight pitch at-bat with a walk to score Rudd.

The 'Cats kept their foot on the accelerator in the next inning thanks to a two-out rally. Rudd singled to center field and the next at-bat, Newport blasted a full-count pitch deep to left field for her fourth homer of the season.

Wilkey battled in the circle to preserve the Wildcats' lead throughout the game, ultimately tossing 139 pitches while stranding 10 Salukis on base. She helped her own cause in the top of the seventh inning when she blasted a grand slam off of Welsh-Ryan Arena to break the game open and extend the #B1GCats lead to seven. Wilkey has now homered in back-to-back appearances, having also hitting a two-run blast in a pinch hit appearance vs. Detroit Mercy on Friday.

Tomorrow's games can be streamed live on ESPN3. For live updates follow @NUSBCats on Twitter and stay tuned to our Regional Central Page.

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