Northwestern University Athletics
Wednesday, March 26
Evanston, Ill.
4 pm CT
Northwestern
vs
Northern Illinois
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Hosts Northern Illinois for Midweek Matchup
3/25/2025 4:06:00 PM | Softball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern wraps up a four-game homestand at Sharon J. Drysdale Field on Wednesday for an in-state showdown against Northern Illinois. First pitch is scheduled for 4 pm CT, and action will be streamed live on B1G+.
This past weekend, the Wildcats earned a ranked win over No. 19 Mississippi State, taking down the Bulldogs 4-2 on Saturday afternoon behind a complete game gem from Lauren Boyd. Boyd threw 127 pitches and allowed just four hits, while Isabel Cunnea tallied three RBI via a two-out triple in the first inning, to help propel the 'Cats to their second top-25 victory of the season. The 19th-ranked Bulldogs took games one and three of the weekend series.
After their matchup last weekend, the Wildcats jumped inside the top-50 of the latest NCAA RPI rankings, up to No. 45. Northwestern currently ranks 23rd in the country in strength of schedule, the highest mark in the Big Ten, and rank No. 4 in non-conference strength of schedule, with nine of their 21 non-conference games coming against ranked opponents.
This marks the 61st all-time meeting between Northwestern and Northern Illinois, and the first since 2014. The Wildcats lead the all-time series between the programs, 37-22-1, and have won 20-straight games dating back to the 1997 season.
Four different Wildcat hitters currently boast a batting average above .300 on the season, led by first-year Kaylie Avvisato. Avvisato currently leads the team in hits (33), RBI (19), stolen bases (10), slugging percentage (.590) and batting average (.398). The last Wildcat to hit above .400 in a season was Northwestern Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Marisa Bast in 2012. Additionally, Avvisato's 10 stolen bases have already surpassed the total from any NU player from the 2024 season, and she is the first Wildcat first-year to reach double-digit stolen bases in their rookie campaign since Ayana Lindsey had 13 during the 2022 season.
Grace Nieto is currently hitting .360 (27-for-75) on the year and has recorded a hit in 10-of-12 games for the 'Cats since she moved into the leadoff spot in the lineup. On the season, Nieto is hitting .393 (11-for-28) when leading off an inning, and also holds a team-best .421 batting average (8-for-19) with runners in scoring position.
Both Kelsey Nader and Cunnea have seen their batting averages skyrocket in the month of March. Nader enters Wednesday's game riding a 12-game reached base streak, during which she has raised her batting average .162 points up to .347 (25-for-72) on the season. Nader's .484 on-base percentage currently leads the team, and over the last two weekends she has reached base in 20 of her 28 total plate appearances. Cunnea is hitting .372 (16-for-43) over the Wildcats' last four weekends and currently ranks fourth in the NU lineup in batting average (.305), slugging percentage (.441), OPS (.829) and RBI (10).
Following this weekend, Northwestern will resume conference action with a three-game series in Minnesota beginning on Friday at 5pm CT. All three games against the Gophers will be streamed on B1G+. The Wildcats swept their opening weekend of conference play in Oklahoma City, winning a pair of two-game sets against both Penn State and Michigan State. Northwestern and Michigan are the only two remaining unbeaten teams in the Big Ten, sitting atop the conference standings at 4-0.
This past weekend, the Wildcats earned a ranked win over No. 19 Mississippi State, taking down the Bulldogs 4-2 on Saturday afternoon behind a complete game gem from Lauren Boyd. Boyd threw 127 pitches and allowed just four hits, while Isabel Cunnea tallied three RBI via a two-out triple in the first inning, to help propel the 'Cats to their second top-25 victory of the season. The 19th-ranked Bulldogs took games one and three of the weekend series.
After their matchup last weekend, the Wildcats jumped inside the top-50 of the latest NCAA RPI rankings, up to No. 45. Northwestern currently ranks 23rd in the country in strength of schedule, the highest mark in the Big Ten, and rank No. 4 in non-conference strength of schedule, with nine of their 21 non-conference games coming against ranked opponents.
This marks the 61st all-time meeting between Northwestern and Northern Illinois, and the first since 2014. The Wildcats lead the all-time series between the programs, 37-22-1, and have won 20-straight games dating back to the 1997 season.
Four different Wildcat hitters currently boast a batting average above .300 on the season, led by first-year Kaylie Avvisato. Avvisato currently leads the team in hits (33), RBI (19), stolen bases (10), slugging percentage (.590) and batting average (.398). The last Wildcat to hit above .400 in a season was Northwestern Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Marisa Bast in 2012. Additionally, Avvisato's 10 stolen bases have already surpassed the total from any NU player from the 2024 season, and she is the first Wildcat first-year to reach double-digit stolen bases in their rookie campaign since Ayana Lindsey had 13 during the 2022 season.
Grace Nieto is currently hitting .360 (27-for-75) on the year and has recorded a hit in 10-of-12 games for the 'Cats since she moved into the leadoff spot in the lineup. On the season, Nieto is hitting .393 (11-for-28) when leading off an inning, and also holds a team-best .421 batting average (8-for-19) with runners in scoring position.
Both Kelsey Nader and Cunnea have seen their batting averages skyrocket in the month of March. Nader enters Wednesday's game riding a 12-game reached base streak, during which she has raised her batting average .162 points up to .347 (25-for-72) on the season. Nader's .484 on-base percentage currently leads the team, and over the last two weekends she has reached base in 20 of her 28 total plate appearances. Cunnea is hitting .372 (16-for-43) over the Wildcats' last four weekends and currently ranks fourth in the NU lineup in batting average (.305), slugging percentage (.441), OPS (.829) and RBI (10).
Following this weekend, Northwestern will resume conference action with a three-game series in Minnesota beginning on Friday at 5pm CT. All three games against the Gophers will be streamed on B1G+. The Wildcats swept their opening weekend of conference play in Oklahoma City, winning a pair of two-game sets against both Penn State and Michigan State. Northwestern and Michigan are the only two remaining unbeaten teams in the Big Ten, sitting atop the conference standings at 4-0.
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/ 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
