Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Earn No. 12 National Seed, Will Host 2023 Evanston Regional
5/14/2023 7:47:00 PM | Softball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern softball was named the No. 12 overall seed in the 2023 NCAA Softball Tournament and will welcome Eastern Illinois, Miami (Ohio) and Kentucky to Sharon J. Drysdale Field for the Evanston Regional from May 19-21.
Northwestern (38-11) is the No. 1 seed in its region and is set to host Eastern Illinois in its opening game of the double elimination region beginning at 2:30 pm CT. Prior to that, No. 2 seed Kentucky will face off against No. 3 seed Miami (Ohio) at 12 pm CT.
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This marks the sixth time Northwestern has hosted an NCAA Regional since the event went to its current 16 regional format in 2005, with every instance coming under coaches Kate Drohan and Caryl Drohan.
The Wildcats will be making their 21st overall tournament appearance in program history as well as their 16th tournament appearance in the 22-year Drohan era, including their eighth in the past nine tournaments. NU has advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals six times under the Drohans and made three trips to the Women's College World Series, most recently in last year's 2022 NCAA Tournament.
This marks the second-straight season in which Northwestern has hosted an NCAA Regional, and the third time in the last four NCAA Tournaments. The 2022 Evanston Regional saw Northwestern sweep its three games by a combined margin of 36-7.
Northwestern finished the Big Ten season with a 20-3 record and sit at 38-11 overall on the season. The Wildcats won the Big Ten regular season title for a second-straight season and most recently won the Big Ten Tournament with a 2-1 walk-off win vs. Indiana on Sunday.
The 64-team NCAA Tournament field is divided into 16, four-team double-elimination regionals which will take place this weekend. The 16 regional winners advance to best-of-three super regionals (to be played May 26-28 on the campus of the higher-seeded school), with the eight remaining schools competing June 1-8 in the NCAA Women's College World Series at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.
Full Schedule (all times listed in central):
Friday, May 19
Game 1 - Kentucky vs. Miami (OH) - 12 p.m. CT - SEC Network
Game 2 - Northwestern vs. Eastern Illinois - 2:30 p.m. CT - ESPN+
Saturday, May 20
Game 3 - Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 - 12 p.m. CT
Game 4 - Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 - 2:30 p.m. CT
Game 5 - Loser of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 - 5 p.m. CT
Sunday, May 21
Game 6 - Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 - 3 p.m. CT
Game 7 (if necessary) - 5:30 p.m. CT
