Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Saint Francis (PA)
'Cats Ready to Kick Off NCAA Austin Regional
5/16/2024 8:53:00 PM | Softball
The four-team double elimination regional includes the Wildcats, Saint Francis, Siena and the host Texas, who earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. The winner of the regional will go on to face the winner of the College Station Super Regional, hosted by No. 16 seed Texas A&M.
Northwestern is making its 22nd tournament appearance in program and its 17th appearance in the 23-year Drohan era. This year marks the sixth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance for the Wildcats, the longest streak in the Big Ten. The Wildcats are looking to win their third-straight NCAA Regional Title, having swept each of their last two Regionals at home in 2022 and 2023.
This will mark the Wildcats' third time traveling to Austin for an NCAA Regional, having also done so in 2003 and 2012. In 2003 (the first regional under the Drohans), the 'Cats went 1-2 winning their first game vs. Tennessee Tech (2-1) before losses to Southwest Texas and Hawaii. In 2012, under the current NCAA Regional format, Northwestern went to Austin as the region's No. 4 seed. The Wildcats knocked off the No. 6 overall seed Texas, 2-0, in game one of the regional and advanced to the Regional Final before falling to the Longhorns in consecutive games (5-0, 5-0).
Northwestern is looking to secure its third-consecutive berth in an NCAA Super Regional for the first time since 2005-08. The Wildcats are currently riding a six-game regional winning streak, dating back to 2022, in which they are outscoring opponents 53-19 in those games. Last season, Northwestern entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 12 seed and defeated Eastern Illinois (2-0), Kentucky (10-8) and Miami (OH) (5-4) in the Evanston Regional. In total, the 'Cats have advanced to the Super Regionals seven times under Drohan, who holds a 46-37 career record (.554%) in the postseason and 34-21 (.618) mark in the Regional round.The Wildcats clinched their third-consecutive regular season title this year, just the second time in school history "three-peating" and the first time since a four-year run from 1984-87 under the legendary Sharon Drysdale. After turning over seven starters from the 2023 season and welcoming a nine-member newcomer class, the Wildcats won every Big Ten series (8-0) this year for the second season in a row, which stands as the longest streak in program history.
Last week, Northwestern took home a haul of Big Ten postseason awards that included Kate Drohan being named the Big Ten Coach of the Year for third season in a row, Ashley Miller being named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and a unanimous First Team selection, Kelsey Nader and Kansas Robinson each earning First Team selections, as well as Emma Raye being named to both the conference's All-Defensive Team and All-Freshman Team.
Miller made headlines this week after being selected in the 2024 Athletes Unlimited College Draft, one of just 15 college players in the nation selected. It marks the third straight year a Northwestern player was selected in the Athletes Unlimited College Draft (Rachel Lewis in 2022, Jordyn Rudd in 2023). Miller enrolled as a graduate student in the prestigious Kellogg School of Management this past Summer, pursuing a Master's degree in Business Management, and currently ranks 11th in the nation (1st in Big Ten) with a 1.33 ERA (29 ER/152.1 IP) and a .163 opposing batting average. She has tossed 15 complete games this season, including five shutouts (most in Big Ten) and went 8-0 over her final 10 starts of the regular season.
At the plate, the Wildcats rank 25th in the nation as a team with a combined .397 on-base percentage, a mark that would currently rank fifth-best in program history. Among those leaders at the plate is a trio of sophomores: Bridget Donahey, Kelsey Nader and Kansas Robinson–who rank Top-3 on the team in both on-base percentage and slugging percentage and all boast an OPS of over 1.000.
The shortstop Donahey ranks second on the team and sixth in the Big Ten with a .464 on-base percentage and recently led the Wildcats with a .690 slugging percentage in the month of April (13 games).
Nader has taken her game to another level since the start of conference play, raising her batting average from .266 up to .376 since conference play started. Nader led the Wildcats with a .473 batting average (35-for-74) in 22 Big Ten games, to go along with a team-best 20 RBI and 22 runs scored. Her 35 hits and .473 batting average in conference play trailed only the Big Ten Player of the Year, Jess Oakland (Minnesota).
Robinson leads the Wildcats in batting average (.397), hits (54), homers (11), RBI (34), slugging percentage (.750) and on-base percentage (.503). Her .750 slugging percentage would currently rank 8th in program history for a single season, while .503 on-base percentage would also currently rank 10th in NU history. With a .397 batting average, Robinson is looking to become just the 10th Wildcat to hit over .400 in a single season – joining a list that includes Emily Allard (2011), Adrienne Monka (2011), Tammy Williams (2007-09), Garland Cooper (2005), Marisa Bast (2012), Mary Ann Rafa (1978) and Stephanie Churchwell (2005).
Complete Schedule for the 2024 Austin Regional (all times listed in central):
Friday, May 17
Game 1 - Texas vs. Siena - 3 p.m. CT - Longhorn Network
Game 2 - Northwestern vs. Saint Francis (PA) - 5:30 p.m. CT - ESPN+
Saturday, May 18
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 19
Game 6 - Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 - TBD
Game 7 (if necessary) - TBD
