Northwestern University Athletics
Wednesday, May 7
West Lafayette, Ind.
6 pm CT
Northwestern
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Purdue
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Northwestern
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Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
‘Cats Fall to Host Boilermakers in Big Ten Tournament
5/7/2025 10:45:00 PM | Softball
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Northwestern dropped a 4-2 decision to Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday evening at the Boilermakers' Bittinger Stadium.
Purdue got on the board first with a run in the top of the first inning, however Signe Dohse limited the damage and stranded the bases loaded. Dohse proceeded to strand the bases loaded the following inning in a scoreless second frame. The redshirt first-year from Hopkins, Minnesota finished the day with one earned run in 2.1 innings pitched, striking out three.
Northwestern evened the game in the bottom of the second inning with a solo home run by Isabel Cunnea. It marked Cunnea's third homer of the season, as well as her third-consecutive game with an RBI.
After three-straight Purdue runners reached base with one out in the third inning, the Boilermakers were able to retake the lead, 2-1. However, Renae Cunningham entered in relief and limited the damage with two straight outs to strand runners on the corners.
Purdue tacked on another run in the top of the fourth inning on a solo home run from pitcher Julia Gossett, who later homered again in the top of the seventh inning.
Cunningham tossed 3.0 innings while allowing just two hits and one run, retiring nine of the 11 batters she faced. Lauren Boyd took over with one out in the sixth inning and threw the final 1.2 innings for the Wildcats, striking out four of the six batters she faced.
Kaylie Avvisato finished 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI-single in the bottom of the fifth inning to drive in Ayana Lindsey and cut the deficit to one. Lindsey also reached base twice, going 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored. Grace Nieto also finished 2-for-4 in what marked her 15th multi-hit game of the season, second on the team behind Kelsey Nader.
Northwestern will await the NCAA selection show on Sunday, May 11 at 6 pm CT on ESPN, where it will look to secure one of 33 at-large bids for the NCAA Tournament.
Purdue got on the board first with a run in the top of the first inning, however Signe Dohse limited the damage and stranded the bases loaded. Dohse proceeded to strand the bases loaded the following inning in a scoreless second frame. The redshirt first-year from Hopkins, Minnesota finished the day with one earned run in 2.1 innings pitched, striking out three.
Northwestern evened the game in the bottom of the second inning with a solo home run by Isabel Cunnea. It marked Cunnea's third homer of the season, as well as her third-consecutive game with an RBI.
Izzy with the Equalizer! ??
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) May 8, 2025
Cunnea sends a solo shot to left field to even us up!
B2 | NU 1, Purdue 1 pic.twitter.com/GMRLaJrCeT
After three-straight Purdue runners reached base with one out in the third inning, the Boilermakers were able to retake the lead, 2-1. However, Renae Cunningham entered in relief and limited the damage with two straight outs to strand runners on the corners.
Purdue tacked on another run in the top of the fourth inning on a solo home run from pitcher Julia Gossett, who later homered again in the top of the seventh inning.
Cunningham tossed 3.0 innings while allowing just two hits and one run, retiring nine of the 11 batters she faced. Lauren Boyd took over with one out in the sixth inning and threw the final 1.2 innings for the Wildcats, striking out four of the six batters she faced.
Kaylie Avvisato finished 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI-single in the bottom of the fifth inning to drive in Ayana Lindsey and cut the deficit to one. Lindsey also reached base twice, going 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored. Grace Nieto also finished 2-for-4 in what marked her 15th multi-hit game of the season, second on the team behind Kelsey Nader.
Northwestern will await the NCAA selection show on Sunday, May 11 at 6 pm CT on ESPN, where it will look to secure one of 33 at-large bids for the NCAA Tournament.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Julia Gossett (11-8)
L: Dohse, Signe (2-1)
Batting:
2B: Sage Scarmardo 1 ; Alivia Meeks 1
HR: Julia Gossett 2
RBI: Julia Gossett 3 ; Ashlynn Campbell 1
SH: Kyndall Bailey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Khloe Banks 1 ; Julia Gossett 2 ; Sage Scarmardo 1
HBP: Maura Condon 1 ; Sage Scarmardo 1
Batting:
HR: Cunnea, Isabel 1
RBI: Avvisato, Kaylie 1 ; Cunnea, Isabel 1
SH: Nader, Kelsey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cunnea, Isabel 1 ; Lindsey, Ayana 1
CS: Lindsey, Ayana 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
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H
2
RBI
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AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
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H
1
RBI
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AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
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/ SoftballOF
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P/U
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OF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballIF
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Sunday, April 27
