First-Place 'Cats Host Nebraska for Final Big Ten Home Series

NORTHWESTERN SOFTBALL: GAME INFORMATION
DATE	OPPONENT	TIME	LOCATION	WATCH	LIVE STATS
Friday, April 28	Nebraska	4 pm CT	Sharon J. Drysdale Field Evanston, Ill.	B1G+	Live Stats
Saturday, April 29	Nebraska	1 pm CT	Sharon J. Drysdale Field Evanston, Ill.	B1G+	Live Stats
Sunday, April 30	Nebraska	1 pm CT	Sharon J. Drysdale Field Evanston, Ill.	Big Ten Network	Live Stats
Social: Twitter: @NUSBcats \| Instagram: @NUSBcats

EVANSTON, Ill. – No. 22 Northwestern looks to improve upon its 8-0 record at home as it welcomes Nebraska to Sharon J. Drysdale Field for a weekend series. Friday and Saturday's matchups will be streamed live on B1G+, while Sunday's finale will be televised on Big Ten Network.

The Wildcats are coming off a series win at Michigan last weekend, improving to 30-10 on the season. The 'Cats are 15-2 in the Big Ten and hold a three-game lead in the conference standings. The Wildcats are looking to repeat as Big Ten champions for the first time since the 1986-87 season, when they won four-straight from 1984-87. The 'Cats are coming off a 2022 campaign that saw them go 19-4 en route to winning their eighth Big Ten title in program history and third under Kate Drohan and Caryl Drohan.

Northwestern has won 10 of its last 11 and 26 of its last 30 games, including all five series it has played this season. The 'Cats are a Big Ten-best 34-6 in conference play dating back to last season. In eight games at home this season, the Wildcats are averaging 9.0 runs per game while allowing just 3.1 runs per game.

The Wildcats last battled Nebraska in 2021, taking three-of-four from the Huskers. Northwestern trails the all-time series between the two programs 24-17 but has won eight of the last nine contests.

Seniors Emmie Farnam, Parker Huff, Sydney Supple, Kendall Peterson, Ashley Schultz, and Angela Zedak will be honored on Sunday's Senior Day celebrations. The Class of 2023 has helped lead Northwestern to an impressive 116-52 record in their four seasons in Evanston, including a historic run to the Women's College World Series in 2022.

Additionally, Sharon Drysdale will return to Drysdale Field on Saturday as part of Northwestern's Title IX Celebration.

Angela Zedak has enjoyed a career-year in her senior campaign, leading Northwestern with a .969 OPS, a .583 slugging percentage, and nine home runs. Zedak has reached base safely in 14 of her last 15 games. She has improved her batting average by over 60 points from last season, from .240 to .304.

Zedak is one of five Wildcats, along with Hannah Cady, Jordyn Rudd, Nikki Cuchran, and Kansas Robinson, to post an OPS over .900 this season. The last time five 'Cats finished the season with a .900+ OPS was 2015.

After allowing just one run over 8.1 innings against Michigan, Lauren Boyd lowered her team-best ERA to 1.63, fourth best in the Big Ten. Boyd leads the Big Ten with a 0.74 ERA in conference play, less than half that of the second-place 1.51 ERA posted by Michigan's Lauren Derkowski. Boyd has recorded a 1.23 ERA (14 ER) in 79.2 innings since allowing five runs in her first start of the year against Texas.

Northwestern is currently ranked No. 9 in the most recent NCAA RPI rankings, the highest in the Big Ten. The Wildcats lead the Big Ten with the 7th-toughest strength of schedule in the nation, while also boasting the 4th-best non-conference strength of schedule rating in the country.

First-Place 'Cats Host Nebraska for Final Big Ten Home Series

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Players Mentioned

Lauren Boyd

Hannah Cady

Nikki Cuchran

Emmie Farnam

Parker Huff

Kendall Peterson

Kansas Robinson

Jordyn Rudd

Ashley Schultz

Sydney Supple

Angela Zedak

Northwestern University Athletics