Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
18-2, 18-2
Maryland
8-12, 8-12
'Cats Earn Series Win Over Maryland With 9-4 Victory
4/4/2021 7:32:00 PM | Softball
Northwestern improves to 18-2 on the season and maintains its lead atop the Big Ten standings.
Eight different Wildcats combined for nine hits on the day, while Danielle Williams earned her Big Ten-leading 10th win on the season, allowing just four runs over 6.1 innings while striking out four. In total, the 'Cats outscored the Terrapins 31-11 over four games this weekend.
The 'Cats kicked off scoring with two runs in the top of the first inning, Rachel Lewis and Jordyn Rudd each doubled in the inning to cap off a phenomenal weekend for both hitters atop the Wildcat lineup. Lewis finished .545 batting average, totaling a double, two triples and two home runs which accounted for seven RBI and an astronomical 1.545 slugging percentage. Rudd was not far behind Lewis, going 8-for-16 on the weekend including a home run, three doubles and a pair of RBI.
The 'Cats added a run in the second inning via a sacrifice fly from Maeve Nelson to bring around Mac Dunlap. Maryland responded with a pair of runs in the second and third to cut the NU lead to 3-2, but the Wildcats responded with four runs in the top of the fourth inning. Nelson jumpstarted the rally with an RBI-double to left-center.
Lewis added another run in the top of the fifth inning after drawing a six-pitch walk with the bases loaded. It was one of seven walks drawn by Lewis over the weekend as she led the team with a .722 on-base percentage over the four games.
Morgan Newport put the finishing touches on a balanced offensive output in the sixth inning, driving in Emma Bartz with a double to left-center. Newport has now hit safely in 10-consecutive games, the longest streak by a Wildcat this season.
The Wildcats now sit at 18-2 on the year and maintain their lead atop the Big Ten standings. Northwestern will be back in action at home this Friday to kick off a four-game series vs. Minnesota. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 3 pm CT, with coverage live on ESPNU.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Williams, Danielle (10-1)
L: Brann, Jennifer (1-4)
Batting:
2B: Lewis, Rachel 1 ; Nelson, Maeve 1 ; Rudd, Jordyn 1 ; Newport, Morgan 1
RBI: Lewis, Rachel 1 ; Nelson, Maeve 3 ; Rudd, Jordyn 1 ; Newport, Morgan 1
SF: Nelson, Maeve 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lewis, Rachel 1 ; Nelson, Maeve 2 ; Rudd, Jordyn 1 ; Bartz, Emma 1 ; Supple, Sydney 1 ; Williams, Danielle 1 ; Shellmyer, Skyler 1 ; Dunlap, Mac 1
Batting:
2B: McFarland, Jaeda 1
3B: Kline, Campbell 1
HR: Voulgaris, Gracie 1
RBI: McFarland, Jaeda 2 ; Voulgaris, Gracie 1 ; Kline, Campbell 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Voulgaris, Gracie 1 ; Jones, Michaela 2 ; Kline, Campbell 1
