Northwestern Captures Second-Straight NCAA Regional Title

Northwestern v Miami (OH) NCAA softball at Sharon J. Drysdale Field on Sunday, May 21, 2023 in Evanston, Illinois. Northwestern Athletics Photo by John Konstantaras | http://JohnKonPhoto.com

Photo by: photo by John Konstantaras

May 21, 2023, Evanston, IL: A game between Northwestern Softball and Eastern Illinois University during the 2023 NCAA Softball Evanston Regional at Sharon J. Drysdale Field in Evanston, Illinois Sunday, May 21, 2023. (Photo by Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics)

Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics

Photo by: photo by John Konstantaras

Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics

Photo by: photo by John Konstantaras

Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics

Photo by: photo by John Konstantaras

Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics

Photo by: photo by John Konstantaras

Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics

Photo by: photo by John Konstantaras

Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics

Photo by: photo by John Konstantaras

Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics

Photo by: photo by John Konstantaras

Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics

Photo by: photo by John Konstantaras

Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics

Photo by: photo by John Konstantaras

Northwestern Captures Second-Straight NCAA Regional Title

5/21/2023 7:12:00 PM | Softball

EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern captured its second-consecutive NCAA Regional title in front of a packed crowd at Sharon J. Drysdale Field on Sunday afternoon, taking down Miami (Ohio) 5-4.

With over 1,150 fans in attendance, the Wildcats overcame an early deficit to sweep their second-straight Evanston Regional and secure their seventh Super Regional appearance in program history.

The 'Cats fell behind 2-0 early to the RedHawks, before Nikki Cuchran crushed a game-tying, two-run homer in the fourth inning. Jordyn Rudd brought home Skyler Shellmyer in the fifth with a RBI-single to take a one run lead. Miami retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth, but the 'Cats answered right away with a run in the top of the sixth. Rudd the eventual game-winning RBI-double in the top of the seventh in her final at bat at Drysdale Field.

Lauren Boyd got the start for the 'Cats and was dominant, tying a career-high nine strikeouts in just 3.2 innings of work. Danielle Williams earned her 22^nd win of the season after recording six Ks over the final 3.1 innings of the game. Northwestern's all-time wins leader put an exclamation on her historic career at Drysdale Field with a vintage seventh inning. The RedHawks loaded the bases with no outs and a one run deficit before Williams struck out two of the final three batters to close out the Regional.

Sunday's victory marked the last appearance at Drysdale Field for Northwestern's graduate students: Nikki Cuchran, Maeve Nelson, Jordyn Rudd, Skyler Shellmyer, and Danielle Williams. The group's continued incredible performance has led Northwestern to its third Super Regional since they arrived on campus in 2019.

"You see what they've done on the field", said Kate Drohan. "There are so many things they've done academically, within our community, here on campus, in the athletic department. I just really appreciate their investment that they've shown up with every day."

All three of NU's wins in the Evanston Regional came by two or less runs. Northwestern held off Eastern Illinois by a score of 2-0 on Friday thanks to a complete-game shutout by Williams, before downing Kentucky, the team that eliminated the 'Cats from the 2021 NCAA Tournament, 10-8 on Saturday behind an eight-run third inning.

First-year Kansas Robinson continued her breakout season with three home runs and five RBI on the weekend. Robinson now leads the Wildcats with a 1.081 OPS this season.

Maeve Nelson went 4-for-8 with a home run in the regional, extending her on-base streak to 13 games. Jordyn Rudd hit .600 (6-for-10) with a home run, two doubles, and four RBI.

Northwestern will head to the Tuscaloosa Super Regional on Friday to take on Alabama, with the 'Cats seeking their second-straight Women's College World Series appearance.