Northwestern University Athletics
Boyd, Avvisato Earn All-Big Ten Postseason Honors
5/9/2025 9:30:00 AM | Softball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern's Lauren Boyd and Kaylie Avvisato each earned Big Ten Postseason recognition, the league announced on Friday. Boyd lands on the All-Big Ten Second Team while Avvisato was named to the conference's All-Big Ten Freshman Team, as voted on by the conference coaches.
This marks the first-ever All-Big Ten selection for Boyd, who has posted career-bests this season in innings pitched (109), strikeouts (104), wins (14), ERA (2.57) and opponent batting average (.216). The graduate student from Union, Missouri has 10 complete games in 19 games started this season, one of just six pitchers in the conference to throw 10+ complete games this season. As a team, Northwestern is 17-5 in games that Boyd has pitched in.
In conference play, Boyd finished with a 9-2 record and ranked fourth among all pitchers with a 2.33 ERA (21 ER/63.0 IP) and third with a .204 opponent batting average. Boyd was one of just 10 pitchers in the conference to throw 60.0+ innings during league play; of that group, her 2.33 ERA ranked second only behind the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, Jordy Bahl. In her last six starts of the regular season (all against Big Ten opponents), Boyd went 6-0 with a 1.60 ERA (8 ER/35.0 IP) to go along with 31 strikeouts and four complete games. During the last week of the regular season, Boyd was named the National Pitcher of the Week by D1Softball after going 2-0 with two complete games en route to a series victory at No. 8 UCLA.
Avvisato leads Northwestern with 55 hits and 83 total bases on the season. Her 55 hits are the most by an NU rookie since Jordyn Rudd (57) in 2019, while her .355 batting average is the highest by a Wildcat first-year since Sabrina Rabin (.394) in 2015. Avvisato leads all first-years in the conference with 22 stolen bases, which also ranks fifth among all Big Ten players. She is the first Wildcat to steal 20+ bases in a season since Skyler Shellmyer in 2023, and the first Northwestern rookie to do so since Rachel Lewis in 2018.
The first-year from Leesburg, Virginia immediately broke onto the scene during her first weekend of collegiate action at the NFCA Leadoff Classic as she hit .563 with nine hits, the most by any true first-year in a Power Four conference over opening weekend. Avvisato carried that momentum into Big Ten play, hitting .329 (25-for-76) in 22 games, the highest mark in conference play by a Wildcat rookie since Grace Nieto (.356) in 2022. In one of her many crowning moments of the season, Avvisato helped complete a four-run seventh inning rally vs. Wisconsin by blasting a three-run walk-off home run to secure a 4-3 win and a series victory over the Badgers in Northwestern's final home game of the season.
Northwestern has now had a pitcher earn All-Big Ten recognition in each of the last six seasons, while landing a player on the All-Freshman team in each of the last four years. In addition, senior Lauren Curry was named the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recipient.
This marks the first-ever All-Big Ten selection for Boyd, who has posted career-bests this season in innings pitched (109), strikeouts (104), wins (14), ERA (2.57) and opponent batting average (.216). The graduate student from Union, Missouri has 10 complete games in 19 games started this season, one of just six pitchers in the conference to throw 10+ complete games this season. As a team, Northwestern is 17-5 in games that Boyd has pitched in.
In conference play, Boyd finished with a 9-2 record and ranked fourth among all pitchers with a 2.33 ERA (21 ER/63.0 IP) and third with a .204 opponent batting average. Boyd was one of just 10 pitchers in the conference to throw 60.0+ innings during league play; of that group, her 2.33 ERA ranked second only behind the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, Jordy Bahl. In her last six starts of the regular season (all against Big Ten opponents), Boyd went 6-0 with a 1.60 ERA (8 ER/35.0 IP) to go along with 31 strikeouts and four complete games. During the last week of the regular season, Boyd was named the National Pitcher of the Week by D1Softball after going 2-0 with two complete games en route to a series victory at No. 8 UCLA.
ROAD. WARRIORS.
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) May 4, 2025
'CATS TAKE THE SERIES. pic.twitter.com/Vnc9yn8sDi
Avvisato leads Northwestern with 55 hits and 83 total bases on the season. Her 55 hits are the most by an NU rookie since Jordyn Rudd (57) in 2019, while her .355 batting average is the highest by a Wildcat first-year since Sabrina Rabin (.394) in 2015. Avvisato leads all first-years in the conference with 22 stolen bases, which also ranks fifth among all Big Ten players. She is the first Wildcat to steal 20+ bases in a season since Skyler Shellmyer in 2023, and the first Northwestern rookie to do so since Rachel Lewis in 2018.
The first-year from Leesburg, Virginia immediately broke onto the scene during her first weekend of collegiate action at the NFCA Leadoff Classic as she hit .563 with nine hits, the most by any true first-year in a Power Four conference over opening weekend. Avvisato carried that momentum into Big Ten play, hitting .329 (25-for-76) in 22 games, the highest mark in conference play by a Wildcat rookie since Grace Nieto (.356) in 2022. In one of her many crowning moments of the season, Avvisato helped complete a four-run seventh inning rally vs. Wisconsin by blasting a three-run walk-off home run to secure a 4-3 win and a series victory over the Badgers in Northwestern's final home game of the season.
WALK. IT. OFF.
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) April 27, 2025
KAYLIE AVVISATO. BALLGAME. pic.twitter.com/AwWLJiooYt
Northwestern has now had a pitcher earn All-Big Ten recognition in each of the last six seasons, while landing a player on the All-Freshman team in each of the last four years. In addition, senior Lauren Curry was named the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recipient.
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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
