Softball to Host 2022 Evanston Regional
5/15/2022 8:05:00 PM | Softball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern softball was named the No. 9 overall seed in the 2022 NCAA Softball Tournament and will welcome Oakland, McNeese and Notre Dame to Sharon J. Drysdale Field for the Evanston Regional from May 20-22.
Northwestern (40-10) is the No. 1 seed in its region and is set to host Oakland (26-15) in its opening game of the double elimination region beginning at 3:30 pm CT on ESPN+. Prior to that, No. 2 seed Notre Dame (39-10) will face off against No. 3 seed McNeese (38-19) at 1 pm CT.
The Wildcats will be making their 20th overall tournament appearance in program history as well as their 15th tournament appearance in the 21-year Drohan era, including their seventh in the past eight tournaments. NU has advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals five times under the Drohans and made two trips to the Women's College World Series. The last time the Wildcats hosted an NCAA Regional was as a No. 16 seed in 2019, which saw Northwestern capture its first Regional title since 2008 with a pair of Sunday victories over Louisville.
Northwestern enters this year's NCAA Tournament with a 40-10 record, having clinched the outright Big Ten regular season championship earlier this month for the eighth time in program history and the third time under the Drohans. It is the first time the Wildcats have won the Big Ten since 2008, and their first outright title since 2006.
Northwestern was one of seven Big Ten programs selected for the NCAA Tournament, tying the conference record for most bids in a single season (also done in 2003). Last week, Northwestern matched its program record with five First Team All-Big Ten honorees, as well as the Big Ten Player of the Year (Rachel Lewis), Big Ten Pitcher of the Year (Danielle Williams) and Big Ten Coach of the Year (Kate Drohan).
The 64-team NCAA Tournament field is divided into 16, four-team double-elimination regionals which will take place this weekend. The 16 regional winners advance to best-of-three super regionals (to be played May 26-29 on the campus of the higher-seeded school), with the eight remaining schools competing June 2-10 in the NCAA Women's College World Series at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.
Ticket information for the Evanston Regional can be found HERE. A full schedule with all game times can be found below.
Full Schedule (all times listed in central):
Friday, May 20
Game 1 - Notre Dame vs. McNeese - 1 p.m. CT - ESPN+
Game 2 - Northwestern vs. Oakland - 3:30 p.m. CT - ESPN+
Saturday, May 21
Game 3 - Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 - 12 p.m. CT
Game 4 - Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 - 2:30 p.m. CT
Game 5 - Loser of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 - 5 p.m. CT
Sunday, May 22
Game 6 - Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 - 3 p.m. CT
Game 7 (if necessary) - 5:30 p.m. CT
Northwestern (40-10) is the No. 1 seed in its region and is set to host Oakland (26-15) in its opening game of the double elimination region beginning at 3:30 pm CT on ESPN+. Prior to that, No. 2 seed Notre Dame (39-10) will face off against No. 3 seed McNeese (38-19) at 1 pm CT.
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This marks the fifth time Northwestern has hosted an NCAA Regional since the event went to its current 16 regional format in 2005, with every instance coming under coaches Kate Drohan and Caryl Drohan. The Wildcats' No. 9 overall seed marks its highest since 2007, when the 'Cats earned a program-best No. 2 seed en route to a Women's College World Series appearance.The Wildcats will be making their 20th overall tournament appearance in program history as well as their 15th tournament appearance in the 21-year Drohan era, including their seventh in the past eight tournaments. NU has advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals five times under the Drohans and made two trips to the Women's College World Series. The last time the Wildcats hosted an NCAA Regional was as a No. 16 seed in 2019, which saw Northwestern capture its first Regional title since 2008 with a pair of Sunday victories over Louisville.
Punching our ticket! ??????#GoCats | #BeRemarkable pic.twitter.com/KwOVPdr8Q4
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) May 16, 2022
Northwestern enters this year's NCAA Tournament with a 40-10 record, having clinched the outright Big Ten regular season championship earlier this month for the eighth time in program history and the third time under the Drohans. It is the first time the Wildcats have won the Big Ten since 2008, and their first outright title since 2006.
Northwestern was one of seven Big Ten programs selected for the NCAA Tournament, tying the conference record for most bids in a single season (also done in 2003). Last week, Northwestern matched its program record with five First Team All-Big Ten honorees, as well as the Big Ten Player of the Year (Rachel Lewis), Big Ten Pitcher of the Year (Danielle Williams) and Big Ten Coach of the Year (Kate Drohan).
The 64-team NCAA Tournament field is divided into 16, four-team double-elimination regionals which will take place this weekend. The 16 regional winners advance to best-of-three super regionals (to be played May 26-29 on the campus of the higher-seeded school), with the eight remaining schools competing June 2-10 in the NCAA Women's College World Series at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.
Ticket information for the Evanston Regional can be found HERE. A full schedule with all game times can be found below.
Full Schedule (all times listed in central):
Friday, May 20
Game 1 - Notre Dame vs. McNeese - 1 p.m. CT - ESPN+
Game 2 - Northwestern vs. Oakland - 3:30 p.m. CT - ESPN+
Saturday, May 21
Game 3 - Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 - 12 p.m. CT
Game 4 - Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 - 2:30 p.m. CT
Game 5 - Loser of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 - 5 p.m. CT
Sunday, May 22
Game 6 - Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 - 3 p.m. CT
Game 7 (if necessary) - 5:30 p.m. CT
Players Mentioned
IF/OF
/ Softball
P/U
/ SoftballSoftball - Lauren Boyd Tosses Complete Game Shutout, 'Cats Blank Kentucky in NCAA Regional (5/16/25)
Friday, May 16
Softball - 'Cats Storm Back, Secure Series Victory at No. 8 UCLA (5/4/25)
Sunday, May 04
Softball - 'Cats Earn 8-0 Run-Rule Win at No. 8 UCLA (5/2/25)
Saturday, May 03
Softball - Kaylie Avvisato Hits Walk-Off Home Run, 'Cats Take Series vs. Wisconsin (4/27/25)
Sunday, April 27
