Sunday, February 9
Clearwater, Fla.
9 am CT
Northwestern
3-2
2
vs
1
Southern Miss
1-4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Northwestern
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
6
1
Southern Miss
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
2
3
Wildcats Earn Top-10 Win, Take Three of Five in Opening Weekend
2/9/2025 2:14:00 PM | Softball
CLEARWATER, Fla. – Northwestern wrapped up its stay at the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic with a 2-1 win over Southern Miss on Sunday to finish opening weekend with a 3-2 record.
Riley Grudzielanek tossed a gem in the circle against Southern Miss, allowing just two hits and one run in a complete game performance. It marked the first time in the sophomore Grudzielanek's career that she pitched a 7.0 inning complete game. Grudzielanek carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning, and stranded a runner on base in each of her last six innings pitched.
Entering the seventh inning of Sunday's game tied at 1-1, Ayana Lindsey led off the inning with a solo home run–the first long ball of the 2025 season for the Wildcats and Lindsey's first homer since April 7, 2023–that proved to be the eventual game-winning run.
This marks the third time in the last four seasons the Wildcats won 3+ games in their opening weekend of action. The 'Cats' two setbacks over the weekend came to a pair of 2024 NCAA Super Regional qualifiers, No. 15 Missouri and No. 5 Tennessee. On Saturday, the Wildcats picked up a 4-1 victory over No. 8 Duke in what marked the Wildcats' 19th win over a ranked opponent in the last four seasons. Northwestern's last win over a Top-10 opponent came during the 2023 season, when the 'Cats took down both No. 6 Texas on opening weekend (Feb. 10) and No. 5 Alabama in game one of the 2023 Tuscaloosa Super Regional (May 26).
First-year Kaylie Avvisato was phenomenal in her first weekend of collegiate action, leading the Northwestern offense with nine hits and a .563 batting average. Avvisato turned in multi-hit efforts in three games over the weekend, and at one point hit safely in seven consecutive at-bats–spanning from her last at-bat against Kennesaw State, which plated the game-winning run, to the end of Saturday's win over No. 8 Duke.
Lauren Boyd returned to action for the Wildcats for the first time in 623 days after missing the 2024 season. Boyd pitched 12.2 innings in two appearances over the weekend for the 'Cats, throwing a complete game 7.0 inning gem on Saturday's win over Duke while allowing just one run and striking out seven. It marked Boyd's most strikeouts in a game since fanning nine on May 21, 2023 against Miami (OH) to win the NCAA Tournament Evanston Regional.
Grace Nieto also made her return to the Wildcat lineup after missing the 2024 season and wasted no time returning to form, hitting .364 (4-of-11) over the weekend including a 3-for-3 performance at the plate against Kennesaw State, tying her career high in what marked the fifth three-hit game of her career.
Emma Raye drove in four of the eight RBI for the Wildcats over the weekend, recording three RBI in the Wildcats' win over Kennesaw State while going 2-for-3 at the plate. Raye also shined on defense in the Wildcats' 5-4 win over Kennesaw State, picking off a runner on first with one out in the bottom of the seventh, followed by a Grudzielanek strikeout on the ensuing pitch to seal the game.
Northwestern will continue its non-conference run against top-tier competition next weekend in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for a five-game slate that includes two games against No. 9 LSU, as well as a Friday matinee with No. 18 Virginia Tech.
Riley Grudzielanek tossed a gem in the circle against Southern Miss, allowing just two hits and one run in a complete game performance. It marked the first time in the sophomore Grudzielanek's career that she pitched a 7.0 inning complete game. Grudzielanek carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning, and stranded a runner on base in each of her last six innings pitched.
Entering the seventh inning of Sunday's game tied at 1-1, Ayana Lindsey led off the inning with a solo home run–the first long ball of the 2025 season for the Wildcats and Lindsey's first homer since April 7, 2023–that proved to be the eventual game-winning run.
7th Inning Heroics, courtesy of Ayana Lindsey ??#GoCats | #BeRemarkable pic.twitter.com/orpy1avPtA
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) February 9, 2025
This marks the third time in the last four seasons the Wildcats won 3+ games in their opening weekend of action. The 'Cats' two setbacks over the weekend came to a pair of 2024 NCAA Super Regional qualifiers, No. 15 Missouri and No. 5 Tennessee. On Saturday, the Wildcats picked up a 4-1 victory over No. 8 Duke in what marked the Wildcats' 19th win over a ranked opponent in the last four seasons. Northwestern's last win over a Top-10 opponent came during the 2023 season, when the 'Cats took down both No. 6 Texas on opening weekend (Feb. 10) and No. 5 Alabama in game one of the 2023 Tuscaloosa Super Regional (May 26).
First-year Kaylie Avvisato was phenomenal in her first weekend of collegiate action, leading the Northwestern offense with nine hits and a .563 batting average. Avvisato turned in multi-hit efforts in three games over the weekend, and at one point hit safely in seven consecutive at-bats–spanning from her last at-bat against Kennesaw State, which plated the game-winning run, to the end of Saturday's win over No. 8 Duke.
Lauren Boyd returned to action for the Wildcats for the first time in 623 days after missing the 2024 season. Boyd pitched 12.2 innings in two appearances over the weekend for the 'Cats, throwing a complete game 7.0 inning gem on Saturday's win over Duke while allowing just one run and striking out seven. It marked Boyd's most strikeouts in a game since fanning nine on May 21, 2023 against Miami (OH) to win the NCAA Tournament Evanston Regional.
Grace Nieto also made her return to the Wildcat lineup after missing the 2024 season and wasted no time returning to form, hitting .364 (4-of-11) over the weekend including a 3-for-3 performance at the plate against Kennesaw State, tying her career high in what marked the fifth three-hit game of her career.
Emma Raye drove in four of the eight RBI for the Wildcats over the weekend, recording three RBI in the Wildcats' win over Kennesaw State while going 2-for-3 at the plate. Raye also shined on defense in the Wildcats' 5-4 win over Kennesaw State, picking off a runner on first with one out in the bottom of the seventh, followed by a Grudzielanek strikeout on the ensuing pitch to seal the game.
New Year. Same Deal.
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) February 7, 2025
Don't Run on Emma Raye ????? pic.twitter.com/GZetiedIkO
Northwestern will continue its non-conference run against top-tier competition next weekend in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for a five-game slate that includes two games against No. 9 LSU, as well as a Friday matinee with No. 18 Virginia Tech.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Grudzielanek, Riley (1-2)
L: Lee (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Nieto, Grace 1
HR: Lindsey, Ayana 1
RBI: Lindsey, Ayana 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nader, Kelsey 1 ; Lindsey, Ayana 1
SB: Cunnea, Isabel 1
HBP: Avvisato, Kaylie 1
Batting:
2B: Fox 1
RBI: Fox 1
SH: Taylor 1 ; Ginder 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Allen 1
SB: Green 1
HBP: Lee 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
P/IF
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P/IF
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IF
/ SoftballSoftball - Lauren Boyd Tosses Complete Game Shutout, 'Cats Blank Kentucky in NCAA Regional (5/16/25)
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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
