Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler / NUSports.com
Five Wildcats Earn All-Big Ten Honors
5/19/2021 12:26:00 PM | Softball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Headlined by Rachel Lewis, one of only three unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selections, five Northwestern players received conference accolades this season, the league office announced on Wednesday.
Joining Lewis on the first-team list are juniors Skyler Shellmyer, Jordyn Rudd, and Danielle Williams. Graduate student Morgan Newport received second-team accolades after a career-year.
This is the sixth time in program history that four Wildcats were named first-team All-Big Ten, and first time since 2007. It is the second time since in the past three awards-seasons that five 'Cats received conference accolades.
Rudd and Lewis also received Big Ten All-Defensive Team honors for outstanding play at catcher and second base, respectively. Northwestern had a .976 fielding percentage this season, the highest mark in program history. It is the first time since 2014 that two Wildcats were named to the All-Defensive team. Behind the dish, Rudd threw out 27% (8-of-30) base-stealers, fifth-highest in the Big Ten.
Rudd and Williams both received first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2019, making this two-consecutive awards-seasons that they have received first-team accolades. Rudd and Williams are the first Wildcats to receive consecutive first-team honors since Andrea Filler (2015-16). They are also the first 'Cats to be named to the first-team in each of their first two full seasons since Garland Cooper (2005-06).
Williams pitched like a true ace once again this season, returning to the dominant form that won her the 2019 NFCA National Freshman of the Year. The Pleasanton, Calif. native garnered a 16-6 record, leading the team in ERA (2.15), innings pitched (143.0), strikeouts (176), batting average against (.199), and walks per seven innings (1.62). She finished third in the conference in strikeouts, wins, and batting average against, while pitching the fifth-most innings behind the ninth-best ERA.
Rudd was a staple in the middle of the NU lineup while playing every inning of the season behind the plate. Rudd led all Big Ten catchers in batting average at .347 (50-for-144) and hits with 50, while blasting three home runs and ten doubles.
For Lewis, this is her third All-Big Ten honor, being named to the first-team as a first-year in 2018 and second-team in 2019. The last Wildcat with three-consecutive All-Big Ten honors was Sabrina Rabin (2016-18).
Lewis finished third in the Big Ten in on-base percentage (.497), fifth in OPS (1.131) seventh in batting average (.344). She also led the conference in stolen bases, swiping 28 bags in 29 attempts.
This is both Shellmyer and Newport's first season named to an All-Big Ten team.
Shellymer improved her batting average from .228 last year to .362 this season, finishing fourth in the conference in the category. The centerfielder posted career-highs in hits, runs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, triples and stolen bases in the process.
Newport capped-off her career in spectacular fashion, earning her first All-Big Ten honor. Newport has set career-highs this year in batting average (.324), slugging percentage (.640), home runs (10), RBI (38), and OPS (1.039), while posting a 2.24 ERA in 56.1 IP in the circle. Her 89 total bases ranked third in the conference. The DeKalb, Ill. native was a consistent power threat all season, blasting home runs in seven of the 'Cats 10 weekend series.
Senior Mac Dunlap earned the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award for Northwestern. Dunlap played in all 44 games for the Wildcats, starting at third base 43 times. She worked her way into the lineup at the end of the season and made an instant impact, batting .294 (5-for-17) with a home run.
Northwestern finished the season with a 29-15 record, third best in the Big Ten. The 'Cats will travel to Lexington, Ky. this week for the NCAA Regional where they will take on No. 14 Kentucky, Notre Dame and Miami (OH).
Joining Lewis on the first-team list are juniors Skyler Shellmyer, Jordyn Rudd, and Danielle Williams. Graduate student Morgan Newport received second-team accolades after a career-year.
This is the sixth time in program history that four Wildcats were named first-team All-Big Ten, and first time since 2007. It is the second time since in the past three awards-seasons that five 'Cats received conference accolades.
Rudd and Lewis also received Big Ten All-Defensive Team honors for outstanding play at catcher and second base, respectively. Northwestern had a .976 fielding percentage this season, the highest mark in program history. It is the first time since 2014 that two Wildcats were named to the All-Defensive team. Behind the dish, Rudd threw out 27% (8-of-30) base-stealers, fifth-highest in the Big Ten.
Rudd and Williams both received first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2019, making this two-consecutive awards-seasons that they have received first-team accolades. Rudd and Williams are the first Wildcats to receive consecutive first-team honors since Andrea Filler (2015-16). They are also the first 'Cats to be named to the first-team in each of their first two full seasons since Garland Cooper (2005-06).
Williams pitched like a true ace once again this season, returning to the dominant form that won her the 2019 NFCA National Freshman of the Year. The Pleasanton, Calif. native garnered a 16-6 record, leading the team in ERA (2.15), innings pitched (143.0), strikeouts (176), batting average against (.199), and walks per seven innings (1.62). She finished third in the conference in strikeouts, wins, and batting average against, while pitching the fifth-most innings behind the ninth-best ERA.
Rudd was a staple in the middle of the NU lineup while playing every inning of the season behind the plate. Rudd led all Big Ten catchers in batting average at .347 (50-for-144) and hits with 50, while blasting three home runs and ten doubles.
For Lewis, this is her third All-Big Ten honor, being named to the first-team as a first-year in 2018 and second-team in 2019. The last Wildcat with three-consecutive All-Big Ten honors was Sabrina Rabin (2016-18).
Lewis finished third in the Big Ten in on-base percentage (.497), fifth in OPS (1.131) seventh in batting average (.344). She also led the conference in stolen bases, swiping 28 bags in 29 attempts.
This is both Shellmyer and Newport's first season named to an All-Big Ten team.
Shellymer improved her batting average from .228 last year to .362 this season, finishing fourth in the conference in the category. The centerfielder posted career-highs in hits, runs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, triples and stolen bases in the process.
Newport capped-off her career in spectacular fashion, earning her first All-Big Ten honor. Newport has set career-highs this year in batting average (.324), slugging percentage (.640), home runs (10), RBI (38), and OPS (1.039), while posting a 2.24 ERA in 56.1 IP in the circle. Her 89 total bases ranked third in the conference. The DeKalb, Ill. native was a consistent power threat all season, blasting home runs in seven of the 'Cats 10 weekend series.
Senior Mac Dunlap earned the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award for Northwestern. Dunlap played in all 44 games for the Wildcats, starting at third base 43 times. She worked her way into the lineup at the end of the season and made an instant impact, batting .294 (5-for-17) with a home run.
Northwestern finished the season with a 29-15 record, third best in the Big Ten. The 'Cats will travel to Lexington, Ky. this week for the NCAA Regional where they will take on No. 14 Kentucky, Notre Dame and Miami (OH).
Players Mentioned
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