Weekend Look-Ahead: 'Cats Headed to Tempe For Super Regional

NORTHWESTERN SOFTBALL: GAME INFORMATION
DATE	OPPONENT	TIME	LOCATION	WATCH	LIVE STATS
Friday, May 27	#8 Arizona State	8 p.m. CT	Tempe, Arizona	ESPNU	Live Stats
Saturday, May 28	#8 Arizona State	10 p.m. CT	Tempe, Arizona	ESPN 2	Live Stats
Sunday, May 29 (if necessary)	#8 Arizona State	TBD	Tempe, Arizona	TBD	Live Stats
Social: Twitter: @NUSBcats \| Instagram: @NUSBcats

TEMPE, Ariz. – Northwestern went 3-0 over the weekend to win the Evanston Regional and advance to the NCAA Super Regionals against Arizona State.

Northwestern is making its sixth NCAA Super Regional appearance, all under the Drohans, and is seeking its third trip to the Women's College World Series.

Kate and Caryl Drohan earned their 700th career win as head coach and associate head coach at Northwestern with Saturday's win against McNeese, the fifth most wins by a coach in Big Ten history. After this regional, Northwestern is 20-3 in NCAA Tournament games held at Sharon J. Drysdale Field under the Drohans.

Northwestern was dominant in the Evanston Regional, outscoring its opponents 36-7 in three games. Northwestern's 17 runs against McNeese on Saturday are the most the Wildcats have ever scored in an NCAA Tournament game. The Wildcats' 36 runs are the second most scored by a team in the tournament this year, trailing Oklahoma's 37 runs by just one. 12 runs per game is the most Northwestern has ever averaged in an NCAA Regional or Super Regional.

The Wildcats' dominant offensive output saw some incredible individual performances. Skyler Shellmyer went 7-for-7 in the final two games of the regional with four stolen bases, setting career-highs with four hits (tied), four runs, and three stolen bases in Saturday's game against McNeese. Shellmyer raised her season average from .333 to .359 in the two games and now leads Northwestern with 19 multi-hit games this season.

First-year Grace Nieto hit .714 (5-for-7) with three RBI and two runs scored in the Evanston Regional. Nieto has finished the season red-hot hitting .579 (22-for-38) with six stolen bases over the past 15 games. Nikki Cuchran strengthened her reputation as an NCAA Tournament star, blasting a home run as part of three hits in the final two games of the weekend. Cuchran is a career .419 (18-for-43) hitter in three appearances in the NCAA Tournament.

Big Ten Player of the Year Rachel Lewis singled, doubled, tripled, and homered in the regional, moving her into fourth place in program history with 217 career hits. Lewis's home run also moved her into sole possession of second place in the Big Ten record books with 63 career long balls. The Ohio native scored five runs on the weekend, putting her at 227 career runs scored for second-most in program history. She is eight runs from tying Tammy Williams's program record of 235.

Danielle Williams earned the win in all three games in the Evanston Regional, posting a 3.06 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 16 innings. The unanimous Big Ten Pitcher of the Year is headed to her second career Super Regional after posting a 2.72 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 61.2 career NCAA Tournament innings.

The Wildcats are 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.

Northwestern is 5-11 all-time against Arizona State. The Wildcats and Sun Devils last squared off at the 2020 Kajikawa Classic, with ASU winning 6-5.

Weekend Look-Ahead: 'Cats Headed to Tempe For Super Regional

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Nikki Cuchran

Rachel Lewis

Grace Nieto

Skyler Shellmyer

Danielle Williams

Northwestern University Athletics