Friday, February 11
Leesburg, FL
2 p.m. CT
Northwestern
1-0
8
vs
0
UCONN
1-1
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
UConn
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
Northwestern
1
1
0
4
2
8
6
0
'Cats Turn in Two Strong Pitching Performances in Opening Day Split
2/11/2022 8:13:00 PM | Softball
LEESBURG, Fla. – Northwestern softball opened its 2022 season on Friday with a pair of strong performances from its starting pitchers, ultimately earning a split on the opening day doubleheader. The Wildcats began the day with an emphatic 8-0 run-rule victory over UConn, followed by a 3-2 setback to No. 13 Virginia Tech.
For the third-straight season, Danielle Williams took the circle as the Wildcats' opening day starter and did not disappoint. Williams allowed just two infield hits in 5.0 scoreless innings, striking out eight. It marked the 20th shutout of Williams' career, moving her into sole possession of sixth-place in program history.
Lauren Dvorak got the start for game two, marking just the second start of her career, and turned in a solid 5.2 innings of work (a career-best), allowing three runs and six hits against a vaunted Virginia Tech lineup that qualified for an NCAA Super Regional last season.
Jordyn Rudd jumpstarted the Northwestern scoring in game one, with an RBI-double down the left field line to give the 'Cats a 1-0 advantage over the Huskies. Rudd later added her second RBI on the day in the sixth inning vs. Virginia Tech.
Skyler Shellmyer gave the Wildcats a 2-0 advantage in the second inning vs. UConn, bringing around Sammy Stanley on a bloop single. Shellmyer finished the day with a pair of hits, as she also led off the evening game vs. the Hokies with an infield single, eventually coming around to score on an impressive effort stealing home.
Rachel Lewis broke open the first game of the day with a two-out grand slam in the fourth inning, marking her 43rd career home run (seventh-most in program history). Lewis added another extra-base hit in the evening game vs. Virginia Tech with a double and an eventual run scored. She also stole a pair of bases, bringing her career total to 80 stolen bases which moves her into a tie for sixth-most in program history with Anne Carpenter (1991-94).
Northwestern capped off its run-rule victory over UConn with a pair of RBI-hits in the fifth inning. Hannah Cady made it 7-0 with an RBI-triple over the center fielder's head to score Angela Zedak, then Kendall Peterson put the finishing touches on the win with a pinch-hit RBI-single to score Cady.
The Wildcats are back in action tomorrow with a morning doubleheader vs. Akron at 9 am CT, followed by #24 Liberty at 11:30 am CT.
For the third-straight season, Danielle Williams took the circle as the Wildcats' opening day starter and did not disappoint. Williams allowed just two infield hits in 5.0 scoreless innings, striking out eight. It marked the 20th shutout of Williams' career, moving her into sole possession of sixth-place in program history.
Lauren Dvorak got the start for game two, marking just the second start of her career, and turned in a solid 5.2 innings of work (a career-best), allowing three runs and six hits against a vaunted Virginia Tech lineup that qualified for an NCAA Super Regional last season.
Jordyn Rudd jumpstarted the Northwestern scoring in game one, with an RBI-double down the left field line to give the 'Cats a 1-0 advantage over the Huskies. Rudd later added her second RBI on the day in the sixth inning vs. Virginia Tech.
Skyler Shellmyer gave the Wildcats a 2-0 advantage in the second inning vs. UConn, bringing around Sammy Stanley on a bloop single. Shellmyer finished the day with a pair of hits, as she also led off the evening game vs. the Hokies with an infield single, eventually coming around to score on an impressive effort stealing home.
Rachel Lewis broke open the first game of the day with a two-out grand slam in the fourth inning, marking her 43rd career home run (seventh-most in program history). Lewis added another extra-base hit in the evening game vs. Virginia Tech with a double and an eventual run scored. She also stole a pair of bases, bringing her career total to 80 stolen bases which moves her into a tie for sixth-most in program history with Anne Carpenter (1991-94).
LAUNCHED ????????
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) February 11, 2022
Two-out GRAND SLAM by who other than @rlewis_11! 'Cats lead, 6-0, headed to the fifth.#GoCats | #OpeningWeekend pic.twitter.com/21U04fs9dy
Northwestern capped off its run-rule victory over UConn with a pair of RBI-hits in the fifth inning. Hannah Cady made it 7-0 with an RBI-triple over the center fielder's head to score Angela Zedak, then Kendall Peterson put the finishing touches on the win with a pinch-hit RBI-single to score Cady.
The Wildcats are back in action tomorrow with a morning doubleheader vs. Akron at 9 am CT, followed by #24 Liberty at 11:30 am CT.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Williams, Danielle (1-0)
L: SOKOLSKY (0-1)
Base Running:
SB: MARCELINO 1
CS: JAMES 1
HBP: PIERGUSTAVO 1 ; CORETH 1
Batting:
2B: Rudd, Jordyn 1 ; Cuchran, Nikki 1
3B: Cady, Hannah 1
HR: Lewis, Rachel 1
RBI: Shellmyer, Skyler 1 ; Lewis, Rachel 4 ; Rudd, Jordyn 1 ; Cady, Hannah 1 ; Peterson, Kendall 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Shellmyer, Skyler 1 ; Lewis, Rachel 1 ; Nelson, Maeve 1 ; Zedak, Angela 1 ; Cady, Hannah 1 ; Cuchran, Nikki 1 ; Stanley, Sammy 1 ; Nieto, Grace 1
HBP: Cuchran, Nikki 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
4
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
IF/C
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballIF/OF
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IF/OF
/ SoftballC/U
/ SoftballOF
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OF
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P/U
/ Softball
U
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