Friday, February 11
Leesburg, FL
2 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
UCONN
'Cats Open Season at Northern Lights Invitational
2/10/2022 1:53:00 PM | Softball
| NORTHWESTERN SOFTBALL: GAME INFORMATION | |||||
| DATE | Opponent | TIME | LOCATION | Watch | Live Stats |
| Friday, Feb. 11 | UConn | 2 p.m. CT | Leesburg, Fl. | FloSoftball | Live Stats |
| Friday, Feb. 11 | #13 Virginia Tech | 5 p.m. CT | Leesburg, Fl. | FloSoftball | Live Stats |
| Saturday, Feb. 12 | Akron | 9 a.m. CT | Leesburg, Fl. | FloSoftball | Live Stats |
| Saturday, Feb. 12 | #24 Liberty | 11:30 a.m. CT | Leesburg, Fl. | FloSoftball | Live Stats |
| Sunday, Feb. 13 | Eastern Kentucky | 8 a.m. CT | Leesburg, Fl. | FloSoftball | Live Stats |
| Social: Twitter: @NUSBcats | Instagram: @NUSBcats | |||||
LEESBURG, Fla. – Northwestern softball starts off its 2022 season this weekend with a five-game slate at the Northern Lights Invitational in Leesburg, Florida. The Wildcats will take on UConn and Virginia Tech on Friday to open their season, then take on Akron and Liberty on Saturday before a tournament finale against Eastern Kentucky on Sunday.
Northwestern will be one of 13 teams in the inaugural field of the Northern Lights Invitational, which was announced in August as a tournament to help programs from northern states escape cold winter weather and face top competition.
The Wildcats will join Iowa, Wisconsin, Penn State and Michigan State as other Big Ten teams in the field and are one of six teams in the invitational to have appeared in last spring's NCAA tournament.
Coach Kate Drohan enters her 21st season at the helm and has her Northwestern squad ranked 23rd in the nation in the D1Softball Top 25 preseason rankings. The Wildcats are looking to build on a 2021 campaign that saw them finish third in the Big Ten with a 29-15 record and reach the NCAA tournament.
With eight of 10 starters returning to the starting lineup, Northwestern appears ready to pick up where it left off. The Wildcats boast four All-Big Ten selections on this year's squad, including senior pitcher Danielle Williams, a two-time All-Big Ten selection and Preseason All-American selection by Softball America. Williams enjoyed a season for the record books in 2021, throwing a perfect game against Iowa and compiling a 17-7 record with a 2.21 ERA.
Graduate infielder Rachel Lewis, senior catcher Jordyn Rudd, and senior outfielder Skyler Shellmyer will also look to replicate their 2021 success this season. Lewis finished as the Big Ten's leader in stolen bases (30) and ranked third in runs scored (39), while Shellmyer ranked fourth in the Big Ten in batting average (.362). Rudd and Shellmyer were also 2021 selections on the Big Ten's All-Defensive Team.
For coverage and updates of Northwestern softball's action this weekend, tune into the Wildcats' Twitter account and NUSports.com.
Players Mentioned
IF/OF
/ Softball
C/U
/ Softball
OF
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P/U
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