Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
23-11, 0
Illinois
21-13, 0
'Cats Split Saturday Doubleheader
5/1/2021 9:25:00 PM | Softball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern split a Saturday doubleheader against Illinois behind a big day from Morgan Newport at the plate.
Newport was the hero of the first game, hitting a walk-off two run dinger off the scoreboard in center to give the Wildcats a dramatic 7-6 win. The 'Cats started slow in the first game, falling behind 4-0 headed into the bottom of the third inning.
Northwestern fought back, scoring three in the bottom half of the third. After coming on as a pinch-runner, Emma Bartz scored on a Skyler Shellmyer triple off the left field wall. With the help of the wind, the 'Cats were able to bring Shellmyer home on a high fly ball to left field. Newport brought in the third Wildcat run of the game on the second triple off the left field wall of the inning.
After the Fighting 'Illini plated two more runs, the Wildcats came roaring back. Maeve Nelson started the rally in the sixth inning with a solo homer to right field. After Ashley Schultz drew a walk, Nikki Cuchran hit a RBI double off the right field wall to bring the Wildcats within one.
Rachel Lewis singled up the middle with one out in the seventh, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate. One out later, Newport drove in her second and third runs of the game to give the Wildcats the win. Sydney Supple was excellent in relief in the first game, allowing only one hit in 2.2 shutout innings.
The seven Wildcat runs were the most allowed by Illinois starter Sydney Sickels all season.
Northwestern dropped a close one in the back end of the doubleheader. After falling behind 2-0 in the first, the Wildcats answered back in the bottom half of the inning. Lewis launched a ball to the center field scoreboard to bring the 'Cats within one. Northwestern added two more runs in the third inning on Newport's second two-run homer of the game, giving the Wildcats a 3-2 lead.
Supple once again dominated Illinois on the mound in the middle of the game, allowing one hit and 0 runs from the second to the sixth innings.
The Wildcats will look to earn a series split on Sunday as they close out the series at home. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 pm CT, with coverage live on Big Ten Network.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Supple, Sydney (3-1)
L: S Sickels (13-3)
Batting:
2B: K Ryono 1
HR: K Wingerter 1
RBI: K Powell 1 ; D Rummell 1 ; K Wingerter 1 ; Stauffenberg 1
SH: K Powell 1
Base Running:
RUNS: A Steiner 1 ; J Vickery 1 ; K Wingerter 1 ; Stauffenberg 1 ; K Ryono 2
SB: A Steiner 2 ; D Rummell 1 ; J Vickery 1
CS: A Steiner 1
HBP: B Loya 1 ; D Rummell 1
Batting:
2B: Lewis, Rachel 1 ; Cuchran, Nikki 1
3B: Shellmyer, Skyler 1 ; Newport, Morgan 1
HR: Newport, Morgan 1 ; Nelson, Maeve 1
RBI: Shellmyer, Skyler 1 ; Lewis, Rachel 1 ; Newport, Morgan 3 ; Nelson, Maeve 1 ; Cuchran, Nikki 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Shellmyer, Skyler 1 ; Lewis, Rachel 2 ; Newport, Morgan 1 ; Nelson, Maeve 1 ; Bartz, Emma 1 ; Dunlap, Mac 1
SB: Shellmyer, Skyler 1
CS: Stanley, Sammy 1
