Sunday, May 29
Tempe, AZ
8:30 pm CT
Northwestern
45-11
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6
#8 Arizona State
43-11
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Northwestern
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14
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Arizona State
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2
Northwestern is Headed to Women's College World Series
5/30/2022 12:10:00 AM | Softball
TEMPE, Ariz. – Northwestern defeated Arizona State 8-6 in a thrilling comeback to punch its ticket to the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.
It is the Wildcats' sixth trip to the Women's College World Series in program history, and third under Kate Drohan and Caryl Drohan (previous two appearances came in 2006 and 2007).
The 'Cats are one of eight teams to advance to the WCWS, which begins on June 2nd. The field includes Oklahoma, Texas, UCLA, and the Wildcats in Bracket 1, as well as Oregon St., Oklahoma St., Florida, and Arizona in Bracket 2. Northwestern is scheduled to play Oklahoma at 1:30 CT on Thursday, June 2nd in its opening game.
The "Cardiac 'Cats" found themselves in an early hole, trailing 5-0, but once again fought their way back to down the Sun Devils.
As was the story all season, the Wildcats were propelled by their senior stars. Jordyn Rudd went 4-for-5 with three RBI to lead the offense, while Maeve Nelson notched three hits and Skyler Shellmyer tallied two hits and two runs scored.
Starting for the third-straight day, Danielle Williams proved why she earned the unanimous Big Ten Pitcher of the Year award by battling a potent Arizona State offense, which scored nearly seven runs per game this season. After allowing five runs in the first three innings, Williams dominated in the final four frames, allowing just one run and one hit while striking out four.
Despite a single from Rudd and double from Nelson, the 'Cats could not push across a run in the top of the first inning. Alynah Torres hit a lead-off homer to give ASU a 1-0 lead, followed by a double and a walk, but Danielle Williams managed to hold the Sun Devils to just one run.
Arizona State put up four runs in the third inning to take a 5-0 lead. However, Williams continued to battle and give the Wildcats' offense a fighting chance.
The 'Cats responded immediately the next inning with four runs. Angela Zedak and Hannah Cady led off the inning with back-to-back singles, before Lauren Caldrone reached on a pivotal error to score both Zedak and Sammy Stanley, Cady's pinch runner. Skyler Shellmyer singled and Lewis walked to load the bases for Rudd. The First Team All-Big Ten catcher continued her incredible tournament with a two-run single to make it a one-run game going into the fifth inning.
For the second time in this Super Regional, Hannah Cady came up with a huge game-tying home run in the late innings, launching a solo shot in the fifth.
Seniors Jordyn Rudd and Maeve Nelson have both come up clutch for the Wildcats countless times in their careers and did so again tonight. With the game tied in the sixth inning, Rudd roped a double to right center and scored the next at bat on a Nelson RBI-single.
With six outs remaining, Rudd made a diving catch on a foul pop-up, Williams recorded her seventh strikeout of the game, then Cady made a great play on a rocket ground ball to third to end the inning.
The 'Cats added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh thanks to RBI-singles by Rudd and Lewis. Cady secured the final out on a foul popup to send Northwestern to Oklahoma City.
Gallery: (5-30-2022) 'Cats Advance to WCWS, Surge Past Sun Devils
It is the Wildcats' sixth trip to the Women's College World Series in program history, and third under Kate Drohan and Caryl Drohan (previous two appearances came in 2006 and 2007).
The 'Cats are one of eight teams to advance to the WCWS, which begins on June 2nd. The field includes Oklahoma, Texas, UCLA, and the Wildcats in Bracket 1, as well as Oregon St., Oklahoma St., Florida, and Arizona in Bracket 2. Northwestern is scheduled to play Oklahoma at 1:30 CT on Thursday, June 2nd in its opening game.
The "Cardiac 'Cats" found themselves in an early hole, trailing 5-0, but once again fought their way back to down the Sun Devils.
As was the story all season, the Wildcats were propelled by their senior stars. Jordyn Rudd went 4-for-5 with three RBI to lead the offense, while Maeve Nelson notched three hits and Skyler Shellmyer tallied two hits and two runs scored.
Starting for the third-straight day, Danielle Williams proved why she earned the unanimous Big Ten Pitcher of the Year award by battling a potent Arizona State offense, which scored nearly seven runs per game this season. After allowing five runs in the first three innings, Williams dominated in the final four frames, allowing just one run and one hit while striking out four.
Despite a single from Rudd and double from Nelson, the 'Cats could not push across a run in the top of the first inning. Alynah Torres hit a lead-off homer to give ASU a 1-0 lead, followed by a double and a walk, but Danielle Williams managed to hold the Sun Devils to just one run.
Arizona State put up four runs in the third inning to take a 5-0 lead. However, Williams continued to battle and give the Wildcats' offense a fighting chance.
The 'Cats responded immediately the next inning with four runs. Angela Zedak and Hannah Cady led off the inning with back-to-back singles, before Lauren Caldrone reached on a pivotal error to score both Zedak and Sammy Stanley, Cady's pinch runner. Skyler Shellmyer singled and Lewis walked to load the bases for Rudd. The First Team All-Big Ten catcher continued her incredible tournament with a two-run single to make it a one-run game going into the fifth inning.
For the second time in this Super Regional, Hannah Cady came up with a huge game-tying home run in the late innings, launching a solo shot in the fifth.
Seniors Jordyn Rudd and Maeve Nelson have both come up clutch for the Wildcats countless times in their careers and did so again tonight. With the game tied in the sixth inning, Rudd roped a double to right center and scored the next at bat on a Nelson RBI-single.
With six outs remaining, Rudd made a diving catch on a foul pop-up, Williams recorded her seventh strikeout of the game, then Cady made a great play on a rocket ground ball to third to end the inning.
The 'Cats added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh thanks to RBI-singles by Rudd and Lewis. Cady secured the final out on a foul popup to send Northwestern to Oklahoma City.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Williams, Danielle (31-4)
L: Lopez, Lindsay (13-5)
Batting:
2B: Rudd, Jordyn 1 ; Nelson, Maeve 1
HR: Cady, Hannah 1
RBI: Lewis, Rachel 1 ; Rudd, Jordyn 3 ; Nelson, Maeve 1 ; Cady, Hannah 1 ; Caldrone, Lauren 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Shellmyer, Skyler 2 ; Rudd, Jordyn 1 ; Zedak, Angela 1 ; Cady, Hannah 1 ; Stanley, Sammy 1 ; Lindsey, Ayana 1 ; Nieto, Grace 1
HBP: Nelson, Maeve 1
Batting:
2B: Acuna, Yannira 1
HR: Torres, Alynah 1 ; Cazares, Emily 1
RBI: Torres, Alynah 1 ; Harper, Makenna 1 ; Cazares, Emily 4
SH: Puk, Jessica 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Torres, Alynah 1 ; Acuna, Yannira 1 ; Sanders, Cydney 1 ; Price, Savannah 1 ; Harper, Makenna 1 ; Cazares, Emily 1
HBP: Sanders, Cydney 1 ; Hill, Jazmine 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
1
H
4
RBI
3
AB
4
R
0
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
IF/C
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballIF
/ SoftballC/U
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P/U
/ SoftballU
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