Wildcats Set to Face More Top-10 Competition at Mary Nutter Classic

NORTHWESTERN SOFTBALL: GAME INFORMATION
DATE	Opponent	TIME	LOCATION	Watch	Live Stats
Friday, Feb. 25	No. 9 Oregon	Noon CT	Palm Desert, Calif.	FloSoftball	Live Stats
Friday, Feb. 25	San Diego State	5 p.m. CT	Palm Desert, Calif.	FloSoftball	Live Stats
Saturday, Feb. 26	No. 5 Washington	4:30 p.m. CT	Palm Desert, Calif.	FloSoftball	Live Stats
Saturday, Feb. 26	CSU Fullerton	7 p.m. CT	Palm Desert, Calif.	FloSoftball	Live Stats
Sunday, Feb. 27	Texas Tech	11 a.m. CT	Palm Desert, Calif.	FloSoftball	Live Stats
Social: Twitter: @NUSBcats \| Instagram: @NUSBcats

PALM DESERT, Calif. — Fresh off a 3-1 showing at the highly-competitive SPC Elite Invite, No. 18 Northwestern heads west for a five-game slate this weekend at the nation's most prestigious non-conference softball tournament, the Mary Nutter Classic.

The Wildcats have toppled top competition in their first two early season tournaments, notably walking off No. 3 UCLA last weekend, while also picking up wins over No. 15 Clemson and No. 24 Liberty. They will get another chance to flex their might against top-ranked opponents in California this weekend, headlined by No. 9 Oregon (noon CT on Friday) and No. 5 Washington (4:30 p.m. CT on Saturday). Northwestern will also take on San Diego State (5 p.m. CT on Friday), Cal State Fullerton (7 p.m. CT on Saturday) and Texas Tech (11 a.m. CT on Sunday), which the 'Cats beat 9-6 to open the SPC Elite Invite last Friday.

Northwestern checked in at No. 18 in the latest NFCA Coaches Poll, having been previously receiving votes leading into last weekend. The Wildcats also vaulted eight spots to No. 15 in the latest ESPN, as well as 11 spots up to No. 10 in this week's D1Softball poll.

Senior Maeve Nelson clocked in at the No. 5 slot in the SportsCenter Top 10 Plays last Friday for her three-run blast in the the bottom of the eighth that sealed a 6-4 win over UCLA. The home run capped Northwestern's first top-three win since 2016 when the Wildcats took down then-No. 2 Michigan in a 13-12 thriller. Friday's win featured clutch performances all around, including a game-tying solo home run from reigning-Big Ten Player of the Week Rachel Lewis that ultimately forced an eighth inning.

Danielle Williams turned in a complete 8.0 innings in that win over UCLA while allowing just two earned runs and striking out six. It was a dominant weekend for the senior who pitched 22.2 innings over three days. She posted 31 strikeouts and allowed just 13 hits in those four games, while picking up two wins and a save. She boasts a 1.26 ERA and a 4-1 record to start the season.

This weekend will bring the 11th all-time meeting between Northwestern and Oregon, a series with a storied history including Lauren Delaney's no-hitter against the Ducks in 2008.

The Wildcats lead the all-time series 12-5-1 against San Diego State with Northwestern winning the last meeting 3-0 in the 2018 Mary Nutter Classic.

Northwestern will be looking for its first win over the Huskies since 2014 when the two purple squads meet on Saturday, the 21st game between these teams.

Saturday will mark the 29th game between Northwestern and Cal State Fullerton, and Sunday will mark the seventh game with Texas Tech.

Live coverage of all five games can be found on FloSoftball, and live updates can be found on Twitter @NUSBcats and Instagram @NUSBcats.

Wildcats Set to Face More Top-10 Competition at Mary Nutter Classic

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Players Mentioned

Rachel Lewis

Maeve Nelson

Danielle Williams

Northwestern University Athletics