Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, February 20
Fayetteville, Ark.
11 am CT
Northwestern
5-6
4
vs
1
Southeast Missouri
3-7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
SEMO
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
2
1
Northwestern
2
1
0
0
1
0
X
4
6
2
Wildcats Split Friday Doubleheader at Arkansas
2/20/2026 6:29:00 PM | Softball
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Northwestern opened its weekend at the Razorback Invitational with 4-1 win over Southeast Missouri, followed by a 6-0 setback to #8 Arkansas on Friday afternoon.
Riley Grudzielanek earned the win in the circle in game one, tossing 5.0 innings and striking out six while allowing just two hits and one run.
After Grudzielanek stranded the bases loaded in the top of the fifth inning, Emma Blea closed the door over the final 2.0 innings to earn a save, allowing no hits across seven batters faced while striking out three.
The 'Cats wasted no time getting the scoring started against the Redhawks, with the first four batters reaching base as Emma Raye drew a six-pitch walk to score Grace Nieto. The next batter, Kansas Robinson, drove in Kelsey Nader for her ninth RBI on the season.
Northwestern added to its lead in the second inning, as Ainsley Muno led off the inning with a single, immediately followed by a double to right-center by Bridget Donahey to score pinch runner Kate Renschen.
After SEMO pushed across a run in the fifth inning to cut the deficit to two, Northwestern immediately responded as Raye roped a one-out double to left field to drive in Nader. It marked the team-leading third double of the season for Raye.
Against Arkansas, Northwestern was unable to generate momentum against reigning Second-Team All-American Robyn Herron of the Razorbacks, who struck out 12.
The Wildcats will be back in action with another doubleheader on Saturday, with rematches against SEMO at 11 am CT, followed with the no. 8-ranked Razorbacks again at 1:30 pm CT.
Riley Grudzielanek earned the win in the circle in game one, tossing 5.0 innings and striking out six while allowing just two hits and one run.
After Grudzielanek stranded the bases loaded in the top of the fifth inning, Emma Blea closed the door over the final 2.0 innings to earn a save, allowing no hits across seven batters faced while striking out three.
The 'Cats wasted no time getting the scoring started against the Redhawks, with the first four batters reaching base as Emma Raye drew a six-pitch walk to score Grace Nieto. The next batter, Kansas Robinson, drove in Kelsey Nader for her ninth RBI on the season.
Northwestern added to its lead in the second inning, as Ainsley Muno led off the inning with a single, immediately followed by a double to right-center by Bridget Donahey to score pinch runner Kate Renschen.
After SEMO pushed across a run in the fifth inning to cut the deficit to two, Northwestern immediately responded as Raye roped a one-out double to left field to drive in Nader. It marked the team-leading third double of the season for Raye.
Against Arkansas, Northwestern was unable to generate momentum against reigning Second-Team All-American Robyn Herron of the Razorbacks, who struck out 12.
The Wildcats will be back in action with another doubleheader on Saturday, with rematches against SEMO at 11 am CT, followed with the no. 8-ranked Razorbacks again at 1:30 pm CT.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Grudzielanek, Riley (2-2)
L: CARNEY, Maddie (1-3)
S: Blea, Emma (1)
Batting:
RBI: WILKINS, Kinley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MARTINIE, Addisyn 1
SB: HUTTON, Kamden 1
HBP: SHORE, Aubrie 1
Batting:
2B: Raye, Emma 1 ; Donahey, Bridget 1
RBI: Raye, Emma 2 ; Robinson, Kansas 1 ; Donahey, Bridget 1
SH: Donahey, Bridget 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nieto, Grace 1 ; Nader, Kelsey 2 ; Renschen, Kate 1
SB: Nieto, Grace 1 ; Nader, Kelsey 1 ; Renschen, Kate 1
HBP: Muno, Ainsley 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
c/dp
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
P/IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF
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