Northwestern University Athletics
Thursday, February 12
Clearwater, Fla.
5 pm CT
Northwestern
vs
#1 Texas Tech
Photo by: Arianna Grainey
'Cats Head to ESPN Clearwater Invitational for Five Games
2/11/2026 5:46:00 PM | Softball
Clearwater, Fla. – Northwestern Softball is back in action this weekend with five games at the ESPN Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational, hosted at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.
The Wildcats will open the weekend against No. 1 Texas Tech on Thursday at 5 pm CT, followed by a Friday matchup with UCF at 9 am CT. The 'Cats then face Missouri (9 am CT) and No. 17 Georgia (12 pm CT) in a Saturday doubleheader. Northwestern then closes out the weekend against No. 8 Texas A&M at 11 am CT on Sunday in a matchup broadcast nationally on ESPN2. Fans can stream the first four games of the weekend on ESPN+.
Most recently, the Wildcats traveled to the Kajikawa Classic for five games at Arizona State, where they split two games with Texas State and picked up wins over Toledo and Memphis, while dropping a game against Arizona State.
Grace Nieto led the Wildcats at the plate last weekend, reaching base in all five games while hitting .500 (6-for-12) to go along with six RBI and a team-leading six runs scored. Nieto wasted no time getting the season started as she hit a leadoff home run in the Wildcats' first at-bat of the season, finishing Friday's win against Toledo with a career-high three runs scored. In Saturday's win over Texas State, Nieto posted a career-high four RBI as she finished 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.
Emma Raye and Kaylie Avvisato also made big impacts at the plate, with Avvisato going 6-for-14 at the plate with a team-high seven RBI and four runs scored, and Raye recording a home run in each of the first two games and finishing the weekend with a .917 slugging percentage. Raye also turned in a stout defensive effort behind the plate, catching three runners attempting to steal throughout the weekend.
A number of first-years made big impacts for the 'Cats in their first weekend of collegiate play. Tru Medina recorded hits in three different games and finished the weekend hitting .400 (4-for-10) with a .538 on-base percentage. Fellow first-year Kate Renschen delivered in Sunday's win over Memphis, hitting a pinch-hit grand slam in her first-collegiate plate appearance in the top of the third inning, as well as an inside-the-park home run in her second at-bat. In the circle, Marina Mason turned in two solid starts against Texas State on Friday and Arizona State on Saturday. The rookie right-hander from Brentwood, Tennessee finished the weekend with a 1.59 ERA (2 ER/9.0 IP) while leading the team with nine strikeouts.
Several pitchers contributed for Northwestern in the circle, including redshirt-sophomore Signe Dohse, who turned in a complete game gem in Saturday's 7-1 win over Texas State, tossing a career-high 7.0 innings while allowing one run (0 earned runs) and striking out a career-high seven batters. Riley Grudzielanek also earned a win for the 'Cats on Friday against Toledo, bouncing back from a first inning home run to allow just one hit over her final 4.1 innings of work. Emma Blea locked up her first win of the season on Sunday, throwing an efficient 59 pitches in just 4.1 innings.
Northwestern is 4-3 all time against the defending national runner-up Texas Tech, with the Wildcats defeating the Red Raiders 9-6 during the 2022 Clearwater Invitational. Northwestern and UCF will face off for the first time in the history of the two programs on Friday. The Wildcats hold a 5-3 edge all-time versus Missouri, with Northwestern falling 3-0 in their most recent matchup at the 2025 NFCA Leadoff Classic. Northwestern is 1-8 all-time against Georgia and 4-6 against Texas A&M, with the most recent meeting between the Wildcats and the Aggies resulting in a 6-3 Northwestern win at the 2012 Kajikawa Classic.
Following this weekend's series, Northwestern travels to Fayetteville, Arkansas for five games at the Razorback Invitational.
The Wildcats will open the weekend against No. 1 Texas Tech on Thursday at 5 pm CT, followed by a Friday matchup with UCF at 9 am CT. The 'Cats then face Missouri (9 am CT) and No. 17 Georgia (12 pm CT) in a Saturday doubleheader. Northwestern then closes out the weekend against No. 8 Texas A&M at 11 am CT on Sunday in a matchup broadcast nationally on ESPN2. Fans can stream the first four games of the weekend on ESPN+.
Most recently, the Wildcats traveled to the Kajikawa Classic for five games at Arizona State, where they split two games with Texas State and picked up wins over Toledo and Memphis, while dropping a game against Arizona State.
Grace Nieto led the Wildcats at the plate last weekend, reaching base in all five games while hitting .500 (6-for-12) to go along with six RBI and a team-leading six runs scored. Nieto wasted no time getting the season started as she hit a leadoff home run in the Wildcats' first at-bat of the season, finishing Friday's win against Toledo with a career-high three runs scored. In Saturday's win over Texas State, Nieto posted a career-high four RBI as she finished 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.
Emma Raye and Kaylie Avvisato also made big impacts at the plate, with Avvisato going 6-for-14 at the plate with a team-high seven RBI and four runs scored, and Raye recording a home run in each of the first two games and finishing the weekend with a .917 slugging percentage. Raye also turned in a stout defensive effort behind the plate, catching three runners attempting to steal throughout the weekend.
A number of first-years made big impacts for the 'Cats in their first weekend of collegiate play. Tru Medina recorded hits in three different games and finished the weekend hitting .400 (4-for-10) with a .538 on-base percentage. Fellow first-year Kate Renschen delivered in Sunday's win over Memphis, hitting a pinch-hit grand slam in her first-collegiate plate appearance in the top of the third inning, as well as an inside-the-park home run in her second at-bat. In the circle, Marina Mason turned in two solid starts against Texas State on Friday and Arizona State on Saturday. The rookie right-hander from Brentwood, Tennessee finished the weekend with a 1.59 ERA (2 ER/9.0 IP) while leading the team with nine strikeouts.
Several pitchers contributed for Northwestern in the circle, including redshirt-sophomore Signe Dohse, who turned in a complete game gem in Saturday's 7-1 win over Texas State, tossing a career-high 7.0 innings while allowing one run (0 earned runs) and striking out a career-high seven batters. Riley Grudzielanek also earned a win for the 'Cats on Friday against Toledo, bouncing back from a first inning home run to allow just one hit over her final 4.1 innings of work. Emma Blea locked up her first win of the season on Sunday, throwing an efficient 59 pitches in just 4.1 innings.
Northwestern is 4-3 all time against the defending national runner-up Texas Tech, with the Wildcats defeating the Red Raiders 9-6 during the 2022 Clearwater Invitational. Northwestern and UCF will face off for the first time in the history of the two programs on Friday. The Wildcats hold a 5-3 edge all-time versus Missouri, with Northwestern falling 3-0 in their most recent matchup at the 2025 NFCA Leadoff Classic. Northwestern is 1-8 all-time against Georgia and 4-6 against Texas A&M, with the most recent meeting between the Wildcats and the Aggies resulting in a 6-3 Northwestern win at the 2012 Kajikawa Classic.
Following this weekend's series, Northwestern travels to Fayetteville, Arkansas for five games at the Razorback Invitational.
Players Mentioned
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