Sunday, May 28
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
3 pm CT
Northwestern
42-13
2
at
3
#5 Alabama
45-20
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Northwestern
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
2
7
0
Alabama
0
0
2
0
1
0
X
3
5
0
Northwestern Falls to Alabama at Tuscaloosa Super Regional
5/28/2023 7:42:00 PM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Northwestern's season came to a heartbreaking end with a 3-2 loss to No. 5 Alabama in the decisive game of the Tuscaloosa Super Regional.
The Wildcats finished the season with a 42-13 record, winning both the regular season and tournament titles in the Big Ten. This was Northwestern's third Super Regional appearance in four seasons and its fifth-straight NCAA Tournament bid.
Danielle Williams held a potent Alabama offense to just three runs in her complete-game effort, bringing her postseason ERA to 2.34.
First-year Kelsey Nader drove in the 'Cats first run with a two-out single in the fourth inning. Maeve Nelson launched a solo home run in the top of the seventh to pull the 'Cats within one, but they could not complete the comeback.
This season brings a close to the historic careers of Northwestern's fifth-years: Nikki Cuchran, Maeve Nelson, Jordyn Rudd, Skyler Shellmyer, and Danielle Williams. In their four full seasons in Evanston, the group led Northwestern to a 175-68 record, four NCAA Tournaments, three Super Regionals, and the 2022 Women's College World Series.
Danielle Williams finishes her career as the 'Cats all-time wins leader with 106 career victories. The Pleasanton, Calif. native also ranks first in program history in appearances (174), third in starts (126), fourth in strikeouts (1,123), fifth in complete games (84), fifth in shutouts (32), and fifth in innings pitched (866.0). Williams became the 11th player in Big Ten history and third Wildcat to earn four First Team All-Big Ten awards. After joining the 'Cats from Amador Valley High School, Williams went on to win the 2019 NFCA National Freshman of the Year, 2019 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, the first unanimous Big Ten Pitcher of the Year award in program history (2022), and a 2022 NFCA First Team All-American nod.
A wizard behind the plate, Jordyn Rudd cemented her place in the NU history books over five years in Evanston. In 2022, Rudd earned the first ever Rawlings Gold Glove Award at catcher, along with the Softball America National Defensive Player of the Year and the Johnny Bench award, presented to the nation's best catcher. A native of Greenwood, Ind., Rudd is the third catcher in Big Ten history to earn three First Team All-Big Ten awards. Rudd ranks fifth in Northwestern history with 247 career hits and joins Garland Cooper as the only Wildcats to ever reach 200 career RBI. The Center Grove High School graduate also finishes her career ranked second in at bats (745), second in doubles (50), and fourth in total bases (397). Rudd was selected with the 13th pick in this year's Athletes Unlimited softball draft.
Illinois's own Maeve Nelson started every game at shortstop for the Wildcats in her career. The River Forest native finished ninth in program history with 40 career home runs and fourth with 123 walks. She is tied with Rudd for the third most appearances in program history at 243. As she did in the seventh inning of today's game, Nelson had a knack for the big moment in her collegiate career, highlighted by a walk-off hit to win the 2023 Big Ten Tournament and a walk-off homer to beat No. 3 UCLA in 2022.
Hailing from Urbandale, Iowa, Skyler Shellmyer was the sparkplug in the Wildcat lineup and locker room for her five seasons. The speedy center fielder was named First Team All-Big Ten in 2021, while earning Second Team honors in 2022 and 2023. Shellmyer ranks seventh in Northwestern history with 229 career hits and fifth with 165 runs scored. After batting a combined .229 her first two seasons, Shellmyer exploded onto the scene as a junior and hit .348 in her final three seasons. Her 63 career steals are tied for ninth in program history.
A back-to-back First Team All-Big Ten award winner, Nikki Cuchran was a staple in the middle of the lineup throughout her time at Northwestern. A native of Downers Grove, Ill., Cuchran posted a .313 career batting average in her five seasons. Her 222 hits rank eighth in NU history. Cuchran hit over .315 three times for her hometown team, including a .320 average as a first-year in 2019. Her .420 batting average paced the 'Cats in conference play this year.
It is the second-consecutive year and third time in five seasons that the 'Cats have won 40+ games. This year's graduates join Wildcat classes of '87, '06, '07, '08, and '09 as the only classes in school history to reach the NCAA Tournament in every season of their careers
The Wildcats finished the season with a 42-13 record, winning both the regular season and tournament titles in the Big Ten. This was Northwestern's third Super Regional appearance in four seasons and its fifth-straight NCAA Tournament bid.
Danielle Williams held a potent Alabama offense to just three runs in her complete-game effort, bringing her postseason ERA to 2.34.
First-year Kelsey Nader drove in the 'Cats first run with a two-out single in the fourth inning. Maeve Nelson launched a solo home run in the top of the seventh to pull the 'Cats within one, but they could not complete the comeback.
This season brings a close to the historic careers of Northwestern's fifth-years: Nikki Cuchran, Maeve Nelson, Jordyn Rudd, Skyler Shellmyer, and Danielle Williams. In their four full seasons in Evanston, the group led Northwestern to a 175-68 record, four NCAA Tournaments, three Super Regionals, and the 2022 Women's College World Series.
Danielle Williams finishes her career as the 'Cats all-time wins leader with 106 career victories. The Pleasanton, Calif. native also ranks first in program history in appearances (174), third in starts (126), fourth in strikeouts (1,123), fifth in complete games (84), fifth in shutouts (32), and fifth in innings pitched (866.0). Williams became the 11th player in Big Ten history and third Wildcat to earn four First Team All-Big Ten awards. After joining the 'Cats from Amador Valley High School, Williams went on to win the 2019 NFCA National Freshman of the Year, 2019 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, the first unanimous Big Ten Pitcher of the Year award in program history (2022), and a 2022 NFCA First Team All-American nod.
A wizard behind the plate, Jordyn Rudd cemented her place in the NU history books over five years in Evanston. In 2022, Rudd earned the first ever Rawlings Gold Glove Award at catcher, along with the Softball America National Defensive Player of the Year and the Johnny Bench award, presented to the nation's best catcher. A native of Greenwood, Ind., Rudd is the third catcher in Big Ten history to earn three First Team All-Big Ten awards. Rudd ranks fifth in Northwestern history with 247 career hits and joins Garland Cooper as the only Wildcats to ever reach 200 career RBI. The Center Grove High School graduate also finishes her career ranked second in at bats (745), second in doubles (50), and fourth in total bases (397). Rudd was selected with the 13th pick in this year's Athletes Unlimited softball draft.
Illinois's own Maeve Nelson started every game at shortstop for the Wildcats in her career. The River Forest native finished ninth in program history with 40 career home runs and fourth with 123 walks. She is tied with Rudd for the third most appearances in program history at 243. As she did in the seventh inning of today's game, Nelson had a knack for the big moment in her collegiate career, highlighted by a walk-off hit to win the 2023 Big Ten Tournament and a walk-off homer to beat No. 3 UCLA in 2022.
Hailing from Urbandale, Iowa, Skyler Shellmyer was the sparkplug in the Wildcat lineup and locker room for her five seasons. The speedy center fielder was named First Team All-Big Ten in 2021, while earning Second Team honors in 2022 and 2023. Shellmyer ranks seventh in Northwestern history with 229 career hits and fifth with 165 runs scored. After batting a combined .229 her first two seasons, Shellmyer exploded onto the scene as a junior and hit .348 in her final three seasons. Her 63 career steals are tied for ninth in program history.
A back-to-back First Team All-Big Ten award winner, Nikki Cuchran was a staple in the middle of the lineup throughout her time at Northwestern. A native of Downers Grove, Ill., Cuchran posted a .313 career batting average in her five seasons. Her 222 hits rank eighth in NU history. Cuchran hit over .315 three times for her hometown team, including a .320 average as a first-year in 2019. Her .420 batting average paced the 'Cats in conference play this year.
It is the second-consecutive year and third time in five seasons that the 'Cats have won 40+ games. This year's graduates join Wildcat classes of '87, '06, '07, '08, and '09 as the only classes in school history to reach the NCAA Tournament in every season of their careers
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Montana Fouts (25-10)
L: Williams, Danielle (23-3)
Batting:
HR: Nelson, Maeve 1
RBI: Nelson, Maeve 1 ; Nader, Kelsey 1
SH: Nelson, Maeve 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nelson, Maeve 1 ; Donahey, Bridget 1
Batting:
HR: Jenna Johnson 1
RBI: Jenna Johnson 1 ; Ally Shipman 2
SH: Jenna Johnson 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ashley Prange 1 ; Jenna Johnson 1 ; Kristen White 1
SB: Jenna Johnson 1 ; Ally Shipman 1 ; Kristen White 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
IF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballIF
/ Softball
C
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
P/U
/ 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
