Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, February 10
Clearwater, Fla.
3 pm CT
Northwestern
vs
South Alabama
'Cats Ready for Opening Weekend at NFCA Leadoff Classic
2/9/2023 9:59:00 AM | Softball
| NORTHWESTERN SOFTBALL: GAME INFORMATION | |||||
| DATE | OPPONENT | TIME | LOCATION | WATCH | LIVE STATS |
| Friday, Feb. 10 | South Alabama | 3 p.m. CT | Eddie C. Moore Complex Clearwater, Fla. |
GameChanger (App) | Live Stats |
| Friday, Feb. 10 | No. 6 Texas | 5:30 p.m. CT | Eddie C. Moore Complex Clearwater, Fla. |
GameChanger (App) | Live Stats |
| Saturday, Feb. 11 | Missouri | 3 p.m. CT | Eddie C. Moore Complex Clearwater, Fla. |
GameChanger (App) | Live Stats |
| Saturday, Feb. 11 | St. John's | 5:30 p.m. CT | Eddie C. Moore Complex Clearwater, Fla. |
GameChanger (App) | Live Stats |
| Sunday, Feb. 12 | No. 13 Tennessee | 9 a.m. CT | Eddie C. Moore Complex Clearwater, Fla. |
GameChanger (App) | Live Stats |
| Social: Twitter: @NUSBcats | Instagram: @NUSBcats | |||||
EVANSTON, Ill. – No. 8 Northwestern softball kicks-off its 2023 campaign at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida this weekend. The 'Cats will take on South Alabama and No. 6 Texas on Friday, Missouri and St. John's on Saturday, and No. 13 Tennessee on Sunday morning. All games will be streamed live on the GameChanger App for free.
This is the third time in the past four seasons that Chicago's Big Ten Team will travel to Clearwater for a February tournament. Last season, the 'Cats went 3-1 with massive wins over No. 3 UCLA, No. 15 Clemson, and Texas Tech at the SPC Elite Invite. Northwestern knocked off No. 5 Florida State and Kansas in the 2020 ESPN Clearwater/St. Petersburg Tournament.
The 'Cats return nearly every starter from a banner 2022 season, where they went 45-13 (19-4 B1G) and won the Big Ten Title, Evanston Regional and Tempe Super Regional en route to their first Women's College World Series appearance since 2007. NU tied a program record with five First Team All-Big Ten honorees, while Kate Drohan was named Big Ten Coach of the Year for the fourth time in her career. The Wildcats set a new single-season program record with 380 runs scored and hit 77 home runs, the third highest total in program history.
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— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) February 9, 2023
Every game of ours this weekend is ???????? to watch on your phone!
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Unanimous Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and NFCA First Team All-American Danielle Williams returns to the circle for the Wildcats after going 31-6 with a 2.09 ERA and 333 strikeouts in 251.0 innings last season. Williams enters the season within the reach of Northwestern history, sitting 15 wins, 212.2 innings, 28 games pitched, 33 games started, and 274 strikeouts from breaking each of the all-time program records. The Pleasanton, Calif. native begins her final season in Evanston as the Wildcats' all-time leader (min. 275 innings pitched) in strikeouts per seven innings (K/7) at 9.24 with 927 strikeouts in 702.0 innings pitched.
Williams's battery mate Jordyn Rudd is back behind the plate for Northwestern after being named National Defensive Player of the Year by Softball America and earning her third First Team All-Big Ten award. Rudd earned the 2022 Johnny Bench Award as the nation's top catcher after leading the 'Cats with a .370 batting average and posting a 1.026 OPS. Rudd's .370 batting average is the highest by a Wildcat since current 'Cats Director of Softball Operations Andrea Filler hit .395 in 2015.
Nikki Cuchran returns at first base following a career-year and her first First Team All-Big Ten award. Cuchran set new career-highs with a .330 batting average, .525 slugging percentage, 59 hits, eight home runs, 50 RBI and 21 runs scored. With 173 career hits, she is 34 hits away from breaking into the top ten in program history.
Four-year starters and Second Team All-Big Ten honorees Maeve Nelson and Skyler Shellmyer also return for their fifth seasons in Evanston. Nelson ranked second on the team with 12 home runs and third with a .992 OPS last season. Her six home runs in conference play in 2022 trailed only fellow Wildcat Hannah Cady among Big Ten infielders, while her 1.126 OPS against conference opponents was fifth best among infielders. Shellmyer led the Wildcats in hits for a second straight season, notching 70 in 201 at-bats while scoring 58 runs which ranked second-most on the team behind Rachel Lewis. She stole a career-high 22 bases while playing elite center field defense.
Junior Hannah Cady and sophomore Grace Nieto look to build upon their breakout 2022 seasons. Cady hit .382 (26-for-68) against conference opponents, leading all Big Ten infielders with seven home runs and ranked third with a 1.162 OPS in conference play. Nieto started all 58 games at second base and hit .324, becoming the first NU first-year to hit over .300 in a season since Rudd and Cuchran did so in 2019.
Lauren Boyd will be back in the 'Cats rotation after her 2022 season was cut short due to injury. Boyd posted a 2.53 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 47.0 innings as a sophomore. Angela Zedak also returns to the Wildcat lineup after starting 57 games and hitting a career-high nine home runs last season.
The Wildcats welcome four newcomers to the team this season in first-years Kansas Robinson, Bridget Donahey, and Kelsey Nader, as well as graduate transfer Cami Henry from DePauw. Henry posted a 1.71 ERA over 536.1 innings for the Tigers.
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/ 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
