Northwestern University Athletics
Thursday, May 9
Iowa City, Iowa
11 am CT
Northwestern
vs
Indiana
Photo by: Caden Greco/Northwestern Athletics
No. 1 Seed Northwestern Ready for Big Ten Tournament
5/8/2024 5:26:00 PM | Softball
IOWA CITY, IOWA. – After clinching its third-consecutive Big Ten regular season title last weekend, No. 1 seed Northwestern enters the 2024 Big Ten Tournament with its eye on another conference title.
The Wildcats are in search of their second straight Big Ten Tournament title, looking to become the first team since Michigan in 1995-96 to sweep both the regular season and tournament titles in back-to-back seasons.
The top-seeded 'Cats received a First Round bye and will open the tournament with a rematch vs. Indiana–who defeated Purdue, 6-3, on Wednesday. First pitch is slated for 11 am CT, with all games throughout the weekend being televised on Big Ten Network.
On Wednesday, the Wildcats took home a Big Ten postseason awards haul 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.
Kelsey Nader had herself a weekend versus Indiana, leading Northwestern with five hits, three RBI and four runs scored in three games to help the Wildcats secure their third-straight Big Ten championship. Nader record a hit in every game over the weekend series, finishing with a .545 on-base percentage and a .500 batting average (5-for-10). She reached base three times on Saturday, going 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored, for her fifth-straight multi-hit game, but it was her performance on Friday that made headlines; Nader went 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, hitting the eventual game-winning three-run home run with two outs in the sixth inning of Fridays 6-3 win over Indiana.
Ainsley Muno also homered for the Wildcats this past weekend and finished the weekend series against the Hoosiers hitting 3-for-6 with three walks and a solo home run. Muno hit .300 (15-for-50) in 22 Big Ten games, driving in 10 RBI with an .937 OPS.
Emma Raye hit a two-run homer to left center on Sunday to secure the 18th consecutive conference series win for the Wildcats, a growing program record. Raye was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week following her efforts. Her 10 home runs on the season lead all first-year hitters in the Big Ten and rank second among Northwestern hitters, her 29 RBI are also tied for second on the team. Raye has started every game for the Wildcats this season and all but one at catcher, as a team the Wildcats are surrendering the fewest stolen bases in the conference (13, next closest 20) and the lowest stolen base percentage in the league (.520, next closest .645).
Northwestern is 31-19 all-time in Big Ten Tournament play, the 2nd-best winning percentage among any team in the tournament's history. NU has taken home the conference tournament title three times (1982, 2008, 2023). The Wildcats are 9-2 in tournament games as the No. 1 seed, including when they won the tournament last season and in 2008.
The Wildcats are in search of their second straight Big Ten Tournament title, looking to become the first team since Michigan in 1995-96 to sweep both the regular season and tournament titles in back-to-back seasons.
The top-seeded 'Cats received a First Round bye and will open the tournament with a rematch vs. Indiana–who defeated Purdue, 6-3, on Wednesday. First pitch is slated for 11 am CT, with all games throughout the weekend being televised on Big Ten Network.
On Wednesday, the Wildcats took home a Big Ten postseason awards haul 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.
Kelsey Nader had herself a weekend versus Indiana, leading Northwestern with five hits, three RBI and four runs scored in three games to help the Wildcats secure their third-straight Big Ten championship. Nader record a hit in every game over the weekend series, finishing with a .545 on-base percentage and a .500 batting average (5-for-10). She reached base three times on Saturday, going 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored, for her fifth-straight multi-hit game, but it was her performance on Friday that made headlines; Nader went 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, hitting the eventual game-winning three-run home run with two outs in the sixth inning of Fridays 6-3 win over Indiana.
Ainsley Muno also homered for the Wildcats this past weekend and finished the weekend series against the Hoosiers hitting 3-for-6 with three walks and a solo home run. Muno hit .300 (15-for-50) in 22 Big Ten games, driving in 10 RBI with an .937 OPS.
Emma Raye hit a two-run homer to left center on Sunday to secure the 18th consecutive conference series win for the Wildcats, a growing program record. Raye was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week following her efforts. Her 10 home runs on the season lead all first-year hitters in the Big Ten and rank second among Northwestern hitters, her 29 RBI are also tied for second on the team. Raye has started every game for the Wildcats this season and all but one at catcher, as a team the Wildcats are surrendering the fewest stolen bases in the conference (13, next closest 20) and the lowest stolen base percentage in the league (.520, next closest .645).
Northwestern is 31-19 all-time in Big Ten Tournament play, the 2nd-best winning percentage among any team in the tournament's history. NU has taken home the conference tournament title three times (1982, 2008, 2023). The Wildcats are 9-2 in tournament games as the No. 1 seed, including when they won the tournament last season and in 2008.
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