No. 2 Seed Northwestern Ready For Big Ten Tournament

Friday, May 10

3:30 p.m.

Northwestern

Indiana

No. 2 Seed Northwestern Ready For Big Ten Tournament

5/9/2019 2:01:00 PM | Softball

Tournament Bracket (PDF)

NORTHWESTERN SOFTBALL: Big Ten Tournament
DATE	OPPONENT	TIME	LOCATION	COVERAGE	LIVE STATS
Friday, May 10	Indiana	3:30 p.m. CT	Bloomington, Ind.	BTN	Live Stats
Saturday, May 11	Semifinal	10:35 a.m. CT	Bloomington, Ind.	BTN	Live Stats
Saturday, May 11	Championship	1:15 p.m. CT	Bloomington, Ind.	BTN	Live Stats
Social: Twitter (@NUSBCats and @NU_Sports) \| Instagram (nusbcats) \| Facebook Game Notes: Northwestern \| Tournament Central

EVANSTON, Ill. – After setting the program record for Big Ten wins in a single season and earning their highest finish in the Big Ten since 2008, Northwestern has its sites set on the Big Ten Tournament in Bloomington, Ind.

The Wildcats finished second overall in the Big Ten with a 21-2 mark in conference play, earning themselves a first-round bye. The 'Cats will open action in the quarterfinals on Friday when they face off against the winner of the No. 7 seed hosts Indiana at 3:30 p.m. CT.

With a win on Friday, the #B1GCats would advance to the semifinals on Saturday for a 1:30 p.m. CT matchup. The championship game will take place approximately 30 minutes after the semi finals, with a tentative start time of 4 p.m. CT.

View the full tournament bracket HERE.

Last season as a No. 4 seed, Northwestern made a run to the Big Ten Tournament Championship game for the first time since 2008. In the quarterfinals, the 'Cats defeated Iowa, 2-1, in extra-innings thanks to a three-hit gem tossed by Kenna Wilkey and a walk-off double by Rachel Lewis. In the semifinals, sophomore Morgan Newport threw the 51st no-hitter in NU history and the second in Big Ten Tournament history in an 11-0 (5) win over Michigan State before falling to Minnesota in the championship game.

On Wednesday, four Northwestern players were honored with All-Big Ten accolades, headlined by Danielle Williams being named the 2019 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and earning unanimous first-team honors. Jordyn Rudd also earned first team honors, while Rachel Lewis and Maeve Nelson each received second team selections. Williams, Rudd and Nelson were also named to the conference's All-Freshman Team, the most selections of any Big Ten program.

The Big Ten also announced on Wednesday that head coach Kate Drohan was named the 2019 Big Ten Coach of the Year, the third time in her 18-year career she has won the award (also 2005, 2006).

NU batters have been exceptional this season at getting on base, as their .393 on-base percentage as the team is tied for fourth in the Big Ten. Additionally, the #B1GCats have drawn 219 walks so far this season, the most in the Big Ten. Rachel Lewis and Morgan Nelson have led the way, ranking first and second in the conference with 44 and 40 walks on the season, respectively. Entering this weekend, Nelson has reached base in a career-high 25-consecutive games, marking the longest steak by a #B1GCats player this season.

The last time the Wildcats traveled to Andy Mohr Field in Bloomington was for a doubleheader at the Hoosier Classic on March 16 in which the 'Cats put on an offensive clinic. The Wildcats notched a season-high 13 hits in an 11-2 win over Toledo and followed that up by belting a season-high four homers in a 5-0 win over Indiana.

In the circle, Northwestern pitchers have struck out 401 batters on the season, the third-highest mark in the Big Ten entering the weekend. They've also limited opposing batters to a .193 batting average, the second-best mark in the Big Ten.

Northwestern leads the all-time series with Indiana, 67-38, and have won each of the last seven matchups between the teams dating back to 2013.

Fans looking to follow along this weekend can get live tweets via @NUSBCats. All tournament games will be broadcast on BTN.

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