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Photo by: Abby Szlosek
Wildcats Gear Up For Mary Nutter Classic After Big Ten/ACC Split
2/21/2023 3:01:00 PM | Softball
| NORTHWESTERN SOFTBALL: THIS WEEK AHEAD (Feb. 24-26) | |||||
| DATE | OPPONENT | TIME | LOCATION | WATCH | LIVE STATS |
| Friday, Feb. 24 | No. 22 Oregon | 2:30 p.m. CT | Palm Desert, Calif. | FloSoftball | Live Stats |
| Saturday, Feb. 25 | No. 1 UCLA | 4:30 p.m. CT | Palm Desert, Calif. | FloSoftball | Live Stats |
| Saturday, Feb. 25 | No. 18 Kentucky | 7:30 p.m. CT | Palm Desert, Calif. | FloSoftball | Live Stats |
| Sunday, Feb. 26 | San Diego | 11 a.m. CT | Palm Desert, Calif. | FloSoftball | Live Stats |
| Social: Twitter: @NUSBcats | Instagram: @NUSBcats | |||||
PALM Desert, Calif. – After splitting this past weekend at the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, Northwestern continues its non-conference gauntlet to open the 2023 season with a trip to the nation's most prestigious non-conference tournament, the Mary Nutter Classic.
Most recently in their trip to Clemson, the 'Cats knocked off Notre Dame twice, but dropped both of its contests again No. 7 Clemson. The Wildcats now sit at No. 19 in this week's most recent NFCA Coaches Poll, the highest ranking of any Big Ten team.
The Wildcats bounced back from an opening weekend loss to the Tigers on Friday with a 2-0 shutout victory over Notre Dame, powered by a complete-game gem from Cami Henry. Angela Zedak helpd break a scoreless tie in the fifth inning with a two-out double to score Jordyn Rudd. One batter later, Nikki Cuchran helped keep the rally going with a single to center field to score Zedak.
Later on Saturday, the 'Cats dropped the back half of their doubleheader by a narrow, 3-2 margin to the hosts Clemson. The Tigers got on the board first with a two-run first inning homer by ACC Player of the Week Valerie Cagle, but from there on out Lauren Boyd was masterful in the circle, finishing with a complete game 7.0 inning performance while allowing just three earned runs, six hits and striking out five. Trailing 3-0 entering the sixth inning, the 'Cats mounted a comeback with back-to-back RBI from Hannah Cady and Zedak. The Wildcats had the potential tying run on base in both the sixth and seventh innings, but ultimately could not bring them around. Clemson ultimately finished the weekend 4-0 and now sits at No. 5 in the most recent NFCA Coaches Poll.
In their weekend finale against Notre Dame on Sunday, Northwestern bounced back once again in a convincing 10-3 victory. The Wildcats poured on five runs in the top of the third inning thanks to RBI-singles from Maeve Nelson and Cady, followed by a bases-clearing double by Nikki Cuchran to give NU a 5-0 advantage. Notre Dame responded in the bottom of the frame with three runs, but the 'Cats added three runs in the fifth inning and two in the seventh to tie their highest run output of the season thus far (also done vs. No. 6 Texas on Feb. 10). Six different Wildcats combined for nine hits on the day, led by Nelson who went 3-for-4. Danielle Williams and Boyd split the game in the cirlce, with Williams striking out four in 3.2 innings of work while Boyd tossed 3.1 shutout innings and allowed just one hit while fanning five of her own.
Around the Horn:
- Cami Henry tossed the first shutout of the season for the Wildcats, blanking Notre Dame in Saturday's 2-0 win. Henry allowed just three hits and two walks in seven sparkling innings for her 14th career shutout and first in a Northwestern uniform. It marked the first shutout victory for the Wildcats this season, after they recorded 13 shutouts during the 2022 campaign.
- Maeve Nelson capped off an impressive weekend with a 3-for-4 day and three RBI in Sunday's finale against Notre Dame. It was Nelson's 10th-career three-hit game and raised her batting average to .300 on the season. Nelson is one of six Wildcats this season to boast a batting average over .300 (also: Rudd/Nader/Zedak/Shellmyer/Robinson).
- Nikki Cuchran hit .455 (5-for-11) on the weekend with five RBI, four of which came in Sunday's 10-3 win over the Fighting Irish. Her five hits were tied with Nelson for the team lead over the 'Cats' four games this weekend. Cuchran is coming off a career year where she hit .330 and was named First Team All-Big Ten.
- Lauren Boyd posted a 2.03 ERA on the weekend, allowing three runs in 10.1 innings. Boyd surrendered just seven hits and one walk, while tallying 10 strikeouts. Following her season-debut against Texas, Boyd has recorded a 1.83 ERA in her past four apperances, allowing just four runs over 15.0 innings pitched.
- Seven of the Wildcats' first eight games this season have come against teams that made last year's NCAA Tournament, while four of their six total opponents are currently ranked in the latest coaches poll (Missouri: 24, Tennessee: 12, Texas: 9, Clemson: 5). The Wildcats will add to that formidable resume this weekend with matchups against No. 1 UCLA, No. 18 Kentucky and No. 22 Oregon.
Know Your Opponent:
?? Schedule Update ???
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) February 24, 2023
Due to travel challenges with Portland State, we will now open our weekend at the @NutterClassic against Oregon on Friday at 2:30 pm CT.#GoCats | #BeRemarkable pic.twitter.com/PYpWMF8LKq
Northwestern is 5-6 all-time against Oregon. In 2008, Lauren Delaney tossed a no-hitter vs the Ducks at the Mary Nutter Classic. Most recently, the two teams squared off in Nutter Classic in 2022, with Northwestern winning, 1-0, in dramatic fashion. Danielle Williams took a no-hitter into the seventh inning in the game and ultimately finished with a complete-game shutout after Angela Zedak cut down the tying run at the plate with an incredible throw from left field to end the game.
.@angg_zedakk_9 FROM LEFT FIELD.
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) February 25, 2022
ANOTHER TOP-TEN WIN.
ANOTHER CLASSIC.
How about those 'Cats? ??#GoCats | #BeRemarkable pic.twitter.com/O0SBrjpKUX
Northwestern is 5-16 all-time against UCLA in what will mark a rematch of a Women's College World Series matchup from last year. The Wildcats and Bruins have met four different times in the WCWS over the years, more than any other opponent Northwestern has faced. UCLA and Northwestern met twice last season, with the Bruins taking the second matchup in Oklahoma City by a score of 6-1. Earlier in the year, Northwestern defeated then No. 3-ranked UCLA, 6-4, in extra-innings at the ESPN St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational thanks to a three-run walk-off homer by Maeve Nelson which was subsequently named No. 5 on SportsCenter's "Top 10 Plays" that day.
Northwestern is 0-3 all-time against Kentucky, having last met up with the Wildcats in 2021 when Northwestern traveled to the Lexington Regional as a No. 4 seed in the region. Kentucky ultimately won both meetings between the programs and advanced out of their host region.
Northwestern is 2-0 all-time against San Diego, with their lone two meetings coming in a doubleheader in 1983 in which Northwestern earned 7-0 and 12-0 shutout wins, respectively.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Cagle,V (4-0)
L: Williams, Danielle (0-1)
Batting:
RBI: Nelson, Maeve 1 ; Cady, Hannah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Shellmyer, Skyler 1 ; Nieto, Grace 1
SB: Shellmyer, Skyler 1
CS: Farnam, Emmie 1
PO: Shellmyer, Skyler 1
Batting:
2B: Clark,M 1 ; Stuart,A 1 ; Logoleo,A 1 ; Vieira,A 1 ; Hyatt,J 1 ; Davenport,R 1
HR: Clark,M 1 ; Vieira,A 1 ; Davenport,R 1
RBI: Clark,M 2 ; Jacobsen,C 3 ; Stuart,A 1 ; Logoleo,A 2 ; Vieira,A 2 ; Hyatt,J 2 ; Davenport,R 1
SF: Hyatt,J 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Clark,M 3 ; Moore,M 3 ; Cagle,V 2 ; Houston,A 1 ; Jacobsen,C 1 ; Logoleo,A 2 ; Vieira,A 1 ; Davenport,R 1 ; Gibson,R 1
HBP: Cagle,V 1
Game Leaders
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2
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2
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H
1
RBI
1
AB
1
R
0
H
1
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0
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0
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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OF
/ 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
