Northwestern University Athletics
Tuesday, April 9
Urbana-Champaign, Ill.
7 p.m. CT
Northwestern
at
Illinois
Wildcats Head to Illinois for Midweek Showdown on BTN
4/9/2024 10:33:00 AM | Softball
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Winners of 14 of their last 15 games, and each of their first three Big Ten series to open the conference season, Northwestern heads down state for a midweek tilt at Illinois at 7 pm CT on Big Ten Network.
Northwestern is fresh off earning a series sweep over Michigan this past weekend, its first time in program history sweeping Michigan in a 3+ game series. The 'Cats have now won three-straight series vs. Michigan in each of the last three years, they are the first Big Ten program to win three-straight series over Michigan in 32 years (Iowa, 1990-92).
The Wildcats also improved to 9-0 at Sharon J. Drysdale Field with their weekend sweep, and have now won 33-consecutive home games dating back to April 3, 2022 in what marks the longest active home winning streak in Division I Softball. The 'Cats will be back in action this weekend at Maryland, tickets are still available.
The Wildcats have won 11-straight Big Ten series (3-0 this year + each of their eight series last season, finishing with a 20-3 record). Northwestern is 47-8 (.855 win%) in Big Ten play since the start of the 2022 season, the highest mark in the conference.
Izzy Cunnea was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Monday after hitting .375 with an extra-base hit in all three games vs. Michigan, including back-to-back games with a home run (first two of her career), for a team-high five RBI and 1.250 slugging% on the weekend. Cunnea is the first Wildcat to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Week since Kansas Robinson (April 10, 2023).
Robinson continued her torrid tear last weekend vs. Michigan, reaching base in 7-of-12 plate appearances throughout the weekend while leading Northwestern in hits (5) and batting average (.500), on-base percentage (.583) and total bases (10). The sophomore sensation hit a home run, two doubles, four RBI and three runs scored throughout the weekend, contributing to a 1.000 slugging percentage. Robinson also reached base three times in each of the Wildcats first two games, extending her reached base streak to 30 straight games to start the season (longest by a Northwestern player since Morgan Nelson in 2019).
Robinson currently ranks third in the nation in batting average (.489) and fourth in the nation in on-base percentage (.579), both of which lead the Big Ten. Robinson is 15-of-24 (.625 average) with 10 walks (most in conference) in nine conference games, good for a .722 on-base percentage, a 1.375 slugging percentage, and a 2.097 OPS.
In the circle, Ashley Miller ranks 19th in the nation (second in Big Ten) with a 1.21 ERA (17 ER/98.0 IP), while her .156 opposing batting average leads the conference. Miller tossed two complete games and went 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA (2 ER/12.0 IP) and 13 strikeouts in two appearances against Michigan last weekend.
Northwestern leads the all-time series against Illinois, 35-16. Last year, the Wildcats won both of their meetings with the Illini, including hitting a program-record six home runs by six different players in a 12-0 run-rule victory in Champaign. The Wildcats also went 3-0 at Eichelberger Field in the Big Ten Tournament on their way to their first Big Ten Tournament title since 2008.
Northwestern is fresh off earning a series sweep over Michigan this past weekend, its first time in program history sweeping Michigan in a 3+ game series. The 'Cats have now won three-straight series vs. Michigan in each of the last three years, they are the first Big Ten program to win three-straight series over Michigan in 32 years (Iowa, 1990-92).
The Wildcats also improved to 9-0 at Sharon J. Drysdale Field with their weekend sweep, and have now won 33-consecutive home games dating back to April 3, 2022 in what marks the longest active home winning streak in Division I Softball. The 'Cats will be back in action this weekend at Maryland, tickets are still available.
The Wildcats have won 11-straight Big Ten series (3-0 this year + each of their eight series last season, finishing with a 20-3 record). Northwestern is 47-8 (.855 win%) in Big Ten play since the start of the 2022 season, the highest mark in the conference.
Izzy Cunnea was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Monday after hitting .375 with an extra-base hit in all three games vs. Michigan, including back-to-back games with a home run (first two of her career), for a team-high five RBI and 1.250 slugging% on the weekend. Cunnea is the first Wildcat to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Week since Kansas Robinson (April 10, 2023).
Robinson continued her torrid tear last weekend vs. Michigan, reaching base in 7-of-12 plate appearances throughout the weekend while leading Northwestern in hits (5) and batting average (.500), on-base percentage (.583) and total bases (10). The sophomore sensation hit a home run, two doubles, four RBI and three runs scored throughout the weekend, contributing to a 1.000 slugging percentage. Robinson also reached base three times in each of the Wildcats first two games, extending her reached base streak to 30 straight games to start the season (longest by a Northwestern player since Morgan Nelson in 2019).
Robinson currently ranks third in the nation in batting average (.489) and fourth in the nation in on-base percentage (.579), both of which lead the Big Ten. Robinson is 15-of-24 (.625 average) with 10 walks (most in conference) in nine conference games, good for a .722 on-base percentage, a 1.375 slugging percentage, and a 2.097 OPS.
In the circle, Ashley Miller ranks 19th in the nation (second in Big Ten) with a 1.21 ERA (17 ER/98.0 IP), while her .156 opposing batting average leads the conference. Miller tossed two complete games and went 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA (2 ER/12.0 IP) and 13 strikeouts in two appearances against Michigan last weekend.
Northwestern leads the all-time series against Illinois, 35-16. Last year, the Wildcats won both of their meetings with the Illini, including hitting a program-record six home runs by six different players in a 12-0 run-rule victory in Champaign. The Wildcats also went 3-0 at Eichelberger Field in the Big Ten Tournament on their way to their first Big Ten Tournament title since 2008.
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballSoftball - Marina Mason Tosses One-Hit Shutout, 'Cats Claim Series Win vs. Minnesota (5/3/26)
Monday, May 04
The Foundation: Northwestern Softball | 2026 Senior Class
Friday, May 01
Softball - Wildcats Open Weekend with 5-1 Win Over Minnesota (5/1/26)
Friday, May 01
Softball - Marina Mason's Complete Game Shutout Fuels a 1-0 Series Sweeping Win at Purdue - 4/26/26
Sunday, April 26
