'Cats Welcome Illinois for Midweek Rematch

Wednesday, April 12

Evanston, Ill.

4 pm CT

Northwestern

Illinois

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Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Jordyn Rudd hit a walk-off grand slam to lift Northwestern to lock up a three-game series sweep for Northwestern at Sharon J. Drysdale Field.

Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics

'Cats Welcome Illinois for Midweek Rematch

4/11/2023 2:12:00 PM | Softball

NORTHWESTERN SOFTBALL: GAME INFORMATION
DATE	OPPONENT	TIME	LOCATION	WATCH	LIVE STATS
Wednesdya, April 12	Illinois	4 pm CT	Sharon J. Drysdale Field Evanston, Ill.	Big Ten Network	Live Stats
Social: Twitter: @NUSBcats \| Instagram: @NUSBcats

EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern will take on Illinois for the second-consecutive Wednesday, this time hosting the Illini at 4 p.m. CT at Sharon J. Drysdale Field. Action will be televised live on Big Ten Network.

Last week, the 'Cats run-ruled Illinois 12-0 behind a program-record six home runs, each of which was hit by a different player.

The 'Cats capped off a historic week with a three-game sweep over Penn State, highlighted by a program-record 24 runs in Saturday's victory. The Wildcats tallied 18 hits on the day, with every starter reaching base and either driving in or scoring a run. Northwestern hit .422 with a 1.293 OPS and 12 home runs as a team in last week's four games.

Kansas Robinson was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week after posting a .455 batting average (5-for-11), 1.000 slugging percentage and .538 on-base percentage in a 4-0 week against Illinois and Penn State. Robinson is hitting .407 (11-for-37) with five walks, five RBI, and 10 runs scored in her past 10 games.

After a strong six inning outing in Sunday's victory, Lauren Boyd leads the Big Ten with a 0.91 ERA (3 ER in 23.0 innings) in conference play. Boyd has posted a team-low 1.89 ERA this season, good for the fourth best mark in the Big Ten.

Danielle Williams has been the most dominant strikeout pitcher in Big Ten play this season, racking up another 24 strikouts in 13.0 innings this week and leading the conference with 10.75 strikeouts per seven innings (K/7). Williams and the 'Cats staff have notched a Big Ten-leading 74 strikeouts through ten games of play.

The Wildcats are hitting .347 with a .437 on-base percentage and .581 slugging percentage in 10 games against Big Ten opponents this season. The 'Cats are averaging a Big Ten-best 9.0 runs per game in conference play this season.

Nikki Cuchran leads the Big Ten with a .533 batting average (16-for-30) in conference play this season. Her .611 on-base percentage also leads the conference, while she ranks second behind Indiana's Taryn Kern with a 1.544 OPS.

In last week's games against Illinois and Penn State, Hannah Cady posted a .600 batting average (3-for-5), .769 on-base percentage, and 1.200 slugging percentage. Cady homered, walked six times, was hit by a pitch, and did not strike out in the four games.

Skyler Shellmyer is hitting .432 (16-for-37) against Big Ten opponents, the sixth highest mark in the conference. Shellmyer leads the Big Ten with six stolen bases in conference play.

Seven Wildcats (Hannah Cady, Nikki Cuchran, Ayana Lindsey, Kansas Robinson, Jordyn Rudd, Skyler Shellmyer) have posted an OPS over .900 in conference play this season.

The reigning Big Ten Champion 'Cats sit atop the conference standings with a 9-1 record. Northwestern's 17 home runs in conference play rank second behind Indiana in the Big Ten.