Lauren Boyd Named National Pitcher of the Week
5/6/2025 11:21:00 AM | Softball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern Softball's Lauren Boyd was named the National Pitcher of the Week by D1Softball on Tuesday, following her dominant performance this past weekend at No. 8 UCLA.
Boyd delivered two gems in the circle for the Wildcats, going 2-0 with a 1.62 ERA (3 ER/13.0 IP) while throwing two complete games. Boyd struck out seven and allowed just seven hits across her 13.0 innings pitched over the weekend, limiting UCLA's lineup to just a .156 combined batting average.
In addition to her National Pitcher of the Week selection, Boyd was also named as one of four players in the country to Softball America's "Stars of the Week," joining Ava Brown (Florida), Jazzy Francis (Florida State) and Emily Kennedy (Texas A&M).
In her outing on Friday, Boyd threw a complete game shutout as Northwestern earned an 8-0 run-rule victory in six innings. Boyd allowed just three hits and no walks while facing just 21 batters in 6.0 innings of work. It marked the second complete game shutout this season for Boyd (previously threw a three-hit shutout at Minnesota on March 28), and the fifth of her career.
On Sunday, Boyd allowed just four hits and three runs in 7.0 innings to help Northwestern secure the series victory in a 5-3 win. Boyd stranded six Bruins on base throughout the game and was masterful down the stretch, retiring 14 of the final 16 batters she faced. It marked Boyd's team-leading 10th complete game of the season, she is one of just six pitchers in the conference to throw 10+ complete games on the year.
Boyd improves to 14-4 on the season while lowering her ERA to 2.54 (39 ER/107.1 IP) and her opponent batting average to just .216. The graduate student from Union, Missouri has now thrown 107.1 innings this season and struck out 100 batters, both of which are single-season career highs. In Big Ten play, Boyd finished 9-2 with two saves and a 2.33 ERA (21 ER/63.0 IP), good for fourth-best in the league, while her .204 opponent batting average against conference hitters ranked third among all pitchers.
Over the last three weeks of action, Boyd is 6-0 with a 1.60 ERA (8 ER/35.0 IP) with four complete game performances in six starts. As a team, the Wildcats are 17-4 in games that Boyd has pitched in this season.
With its series victory this weekend, Northwestern joins No. 4 Florida, No. 6 Arkansas, No. 5 Texas, No. 3 Tennessee, No. 12 South Carolina and No. 2 Oklahoma as the only teams in the nation this season to earn a three-game series on the road victory over an opponent currently ranked in the RPI Top-10.
The Wildcats are back in action in West Lafayette on Wednesday to kick off their stay at the Big Ten Tournament against the hosts Purdue. First pitch is scheduled for 6 pm CT, with action televised live on Big Ten Network.
Boyd delivered two gems in the circle for the Wildcats, going 2-0 with a 1.62 ERA (3 ER/13.0 IP) while throwing two complete games. Boyd struck out seven and allowed just seven hits across her 13.0 innings pitched over the weekend, limiting UCLA's lineup to just a .156 combined batting average.
In addition to her National Pitcher of the Week selection, Boyd was also named as one of four players in the country to Softball America's "Stars of the Week," joining Ava Brown (Florida), Jazzy Francis (Florida State) and Emily Kennedy (Texas A&M).
In her outing on Friday, Boyd threw a complete game shutout as Northwestern earned an 8-0 run-rule victory in six innings. Boyd allowed just three hits and no walks while facing just 21 batters in 6.0 innings of work. It marked the second complete game shutout this season for Boyd (previously threw a three-hit shutout at Minnesota on March 28), and the fifth of her career.
On Sunday, Boyd allowed just four hits and three runs in 7.0 innings to help Northwestern secure the series victory in a 5-3 win. Boyd stranded six Bruins on base throughout the game and was masterful down the stretch, retiring 14 of the final 16 batters she faced. It marked Boyd's team-leading 10th complete game of the season, she is one of just six pitchers in the conference to throw 10+ complete games on the year.
Boyd improves to 14-4 on the season while lowering her ERA to 2.54 (39 ER/107.1 IP) and her opponent batting average to just .216. The graduate student from Union, Missouri has now thrown 107.1 innings this season and struck out 100 batters, both of which are single-season career highs. In Big Ten play, Boyd finished 9-2 with two saves and a 2.33 ERA (21 ER/63.0 IP), good for fourth-best in the league, while her .204 opponent batting average against conference hitters ranked third among all pitchers.
Over the last three weeks of action, Boyd is 6-0 with a 1.60 ERA (8 ER/35.0 IP) with four complete game performances in six starts. As a team, the Wildcats are 17-4 in games that Boyd has pitched in this season.
With its series victory this weekend, Northwestern joins No. 4 Florida, No. 6 Arkansas, No. 5 Texas, No. 3 Tennessee, No. 12 South Carolina and No. 2 Oklahoma as the only teams in the nation this season to earn a three-game series on the road victory over an opponent currently ranked in the RPI Top-10.
The Wildcats are back in action in West Lafayette on Wednesday to kick off their stay at the Big Ten Tournament against the hosts Purdue. First pitch is scheduled for 6 pm CT, with action televised live on Big Ten Network.
Players Mentioned
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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
