Wildcats Walk Off Badgers, Take Weekend Series

Sunday, April 27

Evanston, Ill.

1:30 pm CT

Northwestern

27-16-1, 14-5

Wisconsin

31-19, 11-11

Wisconsin

Northwestern

Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics

Wildcats Walk Off Badgers, Take Weekend Series

4/28/2025 5:32:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Watch: Game One Highlights Watch: Game Three Highlights

EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern secured a weekend series victory over Wisconsin in dramatic fashion, rallying with four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning capped off by a two-run walk-off home run by Kaylie Avvisato to secure a 4-3 victory in front of a sold out crowd on Sunday at Sharon J. Drysdale Field.

Northwestern now sits at 27-16-1 on the season and 14-5 in conference play. The Wildcats will enter the final weekend of the regular season in a three-way tie for third place in the Big Ten standings with Ohio State and Nebraska, behind only UCLA (16-3) and Oregon (17-2).

Sunday's win came on Senior Day at Sharon J. Drysdale Field, in which Northwestern honored Lauren Boyd, Lauren Curry, Ayana Lindsey and Lauren Sciborski as the 2025 Senior Class. Trailing 3-0 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, Northwestern rallied with four hits and four runs in the bottom of the frame to walk the game off. Boyd earned the win in the circle, throwing her team-leading eighth complete game of the season, Sciborski reached base twice in the game and Lindsey finished 1-for-3 with a run scored. Northwestern has now won its last 15 Senior Day games at The J, dating back to 2010.

The Wildcats opened the three-game set with an 11-3 run-rule victory on Friday–their third-straight run-rule victory–before dropping Saturday's matchup, 8-2. This marks Northwestern's sixth series victory on the conference season. The 'Cats now hold an .828 winning percentage (72-15) in Big Ten play since the start of 2022, the most wins by any team in the conference in that span.

One to Remember. 7th Inning Rally Recap ??? pic.twitter.com/AClieGlIEi
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) April 28, 2025

As a team, Northwestern combined to hit .361 (30-for-83) during its three games against Wisconsin. Bridget Donahey led the way at the plate, posting an .875 on-base percentage throughout the weekend as she reached base in 7-of-8 plate appearances. Donahey is now hitting .300 (30-for-100) on the season and leads the team in OPS (1.089) and slugging percentage (.630).

Avvisato led the 'Cats with six hits and three RBI throughout the weekend, hitting .545 (6-for-11) with three doubles, three runs scored and her walk-off home run on Sunday. She reached base multiple times in all three games this weekend, including a two-hit effort on Saturday followed by a 3-for-4 showing on Sunday. The first-year phenom has now turned in 14 multi-hit games on the season–tied with Kelsey Nader for the most on the team–including seven three-hit games which already ranks as the most by a Wildcat since 2018 (Sabrina Rabin; 8).

Entering the final week of regular season play, Avvisato currently leads the team with a .379 batting average (53-for-140) which ranks fifth among all Big Ten rookies. Avvisato is also hitting .375 (24-for-64) in Big Ten play, which is on pace for the highest mark in conference play by a Wildcat rookie since Morgan Nelson hit .375 as a first-year in 2016.

Ayana Lindsey finished the weekend going 4-for-8 with an RBI and three runs scored. The senior from Iowa City, Iowa has now reached base safely in nine consecutive games, the longest active streak on team.

Isabel Cunnea led the Wildcats at the plate in Friday's run-rule victory, going 3-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored in what marked the first three-hit game of her career and the fourth-straight game in which Cunnea recorded an RBI. As a team on Friday, the Wildcats combined for 14 hits among nine different batters, scoring a run in every inning.

Lauren Boyd was masterful in the circle throughout the weekend, going 2-0 with two complete games while compiling a 2.92 ERA (5 ER/12.0 IP) and striking out eight. Boyd came up clutch in multiple situations with runners on base throughout the weekend, stranding 16 Badgers in total across 12.0 innings pitched. The senior from Union, Missouri has elevated her play Big Ten games this season, currently ranking fourth in the conference in ERA (2.52) and fifth in opponent batting average (.216). The Wildcats improved to 15-4 in games that Boyd has pitched this season

Northwestern will close out its regular season on the road this weekend as it travels to No. 8 UCLA for a three-game series. Game one is slated for 6 pm CT on Friday, game two is scheduled for 2 pm CT on Saturday and the regular season finale will take place at 1 pm CT on Sunday, with all three games being broadcast live on Big Ten Network. Following their trip to Westwood, the Wildcats will set their sights on the Big Ten Tournament hosted by Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana beginning on Wednesday, May 7.