Northwestern University Athletics
“Take What the Game Gives You" - By Sydney Supple
4/7/2021 8:39:00 AM | Softball
"Take what the games give you," is a common line we hear in our huddles, but it was specifically said often this weekend during our Maryland series.
The game asks us to play in 30-degree weather one night and 60 plus weather another day? We'll take it. The game shows us love on Friday but decides to wake up Saturday morning ready for a fight and asks us to spend eight hours on the field that day? We'll take it. The game said let me humble you Saturday morning and see how you respond for the night game? We'll take that and show you how tough we are. This weekend was all about taking what the game gave us, embracing those moments, and being the toughest version of ourselves when responding to it.
Playing a four games series is a beast in its own right and there are plenty of times throughout the series either team has their highs and lows and moments when momentum is in your hands and other times when it enters the opposing team's dugout. Our team walked away with this weekend series 3-1 because of how we fought our way through what the game gave us.
Mac Dunlap making an insane diving catch knocking the air not only out of her but everyone else watching, having four of our players go yard during the end of our eight-hour day on the field on Saturday, and Nikki Cuchran sacrificing her body at first base to do whatever she could to make an out for our team. That is taking what the game gives you looks like, tough tough tough.
The game of softball is a beautifully unique sport, to say the least, and one that will always keep us on our toes as one day it gives you fastballs and the other wicked curveballs. Moving forward all we plan to do is keep thickening our skin to prepare ourselves for whatever the game has to give us. Thank you Maryland for the lessons you taught us and opportunities to prove how tough we can be. Now it is time to get back to work for our next home series versus Minnesota.
I promise you do not want to miss this series because we are ready for whatever the game will throw at us.
-Sydney #26
The game asks us to play in 30-degree weather one night and 60 plus weather another day? We'll take it. The game shows us love on Friday but decides to wake up Saturday morning ready for a fight and asks us to spend eight hours on the field that day? We'll take it. The game said let me humble you Saturday morning and see how you respond for the night game? We'll take that and show you how tough we are. This weekend was all about taking what the game gave us, embracing those moments, and being the toughest version of ourselves when responding to it.
Playing a four games series is a beast in its own right and there are plenty of times throughout the series either team has their highs and lows and moments when momentum is in your hands and other times when it enters the opposing team's dugout. Our team walked away with this weekend series 3-1 because of how we fought our way through what the game gave us.
Mac Dunlap making an insane diving catch knocking the air not only out of her but everyone else watching, having four of our players go yard during the end of our eight-hour day on the field on Saturday, and Nikki Cuchran sacrificing her body at first base to do whatever she could to make an out for our team. That is taking what the game gives you looks like, tough tough tough.
DON'T LET RACHEL HEAT UP!!!@rlewis_11 CLEARS the scoreboard for her second HR of the game ????
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) April 3, 2021
T3 | NU 10, UMD 3 pic.twitter.com/RSXHRuW8l7
IT'S A J RUDD JACK!! ??
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) April 3, 2021
'Cats on the board after her solo HR.
T1 | NU 1, UMD 0 pic.twitter.com/tVPQt6jF1F
The game of softball is a beautifully unique sport, to say the least, and one that will always keep us on our toes as one day it gives you fastballs and the other wicked curveballs. Moving forward all we plan to do is keep thickening our skin to prepare ourselves for whatever the game has to give us. Thank you Maryland for the lessons you taught us and opportunities to prove how tough we can be. Now it is time to get back to work for our next home series versus Minnesota.
I promise you do not want to miss this series because we are ready for whatever the game will throw at us.
-Sydney #26
Players Mentioned
Softball - Marina Mason Tosses One-Hit Shutout, 'Cats Claim Series Win vs. Minnesota (5/3/26)
Monday, May 04
The Foundation: Northwestern Softball | 2026 Senior Class
Friday, May 01
Softball - Wildcats Open Weekend with 5-1 Win Over Minnesota (5/1/26)
Friday, May 01
Softball - Marina Mason's Complete Game Shutout Fuels a 1-0 Series Sweeping Win at Purdue - 4/26/26
Sunday, April 26
















