Northwestern University Athletics
Sunday, February 22
Fayetteville, Ark.
1 pm CT
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#8 Arkansas
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Wildcats Wrap Up Razorback Invitational
2/22/2026 7:39:00 PM | Softball
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Northwestern wrapped up its weekend at the Razorback Invitational with two wins over Southeast Missouri and three losses to the hosts, No. 8 Arkansas.
The Wildcats split doubleheaders in their first two days of the weekend. On Friday, the 'Cats opened with a 4-1 win over SEMO before falling 6-0 to the Razorbacks. Saturday followed a similar script, as Northwestern run-ruled SEMO, 12-1, in six innings, before dropping a 7-0 contest to No. 8 Arkansas.
Sunday's finale against Arkansas saw Northwestern drop a 9-8 decision at Bogle Park. After the Razorbacks jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning, Northwestern stormed back with five runs in the top of the third, followed by an Emma Raye solo home run to tie the game in the fourth inning. Arkansas responded with a three-run homer in the fifth inning, and while Northwestern answered with a two-run homer in the top of the seventh, the Wildcats could not complete the comeback.
Northwestern sits at 6-9 on the season, with seven of its nine losses coming against ranked opponents. Collectively, Northwestern's opponents in its nine losses hold a combined record of 88-25 (.779 winning percentage) to date.
Kelsey Nader led the team with a .529 on-base percentage over the five weekend games, going 7-for-15 with a team-high six runs scored. The senior from Canton, Michigan matched her career high with three runs scored in Saturday's win over SEMO, and followed that up with her first three-hit effort of the season on Sunday against Arkansas. Through three weekends, Nader leads the team with a .391 batting average (18-for-46) as well as 11 runs scored.
Raye continued her hot start to 2026, going 7-for-16 in Fayetteville with six RBI, a homer, two doubles and three runs scored. In Sunday's game against the Razorbacks, Raye matched her career high with three hits, driving in three runs with a double and a home run. Raye is hitting .366 (15-for-41) on the season with a team-high .447 on-base percentage and .683 slugging percentage, as seven of her 15 hits have gone for extra bases.
Kaylie Avvisato delivered a career performance in Saturday's 12-1 run-rule win over SEMO, going 2-for-4 with a career-high five RBI, a triple and a grand slam. Her two-out RBI triple in the third inning tied the game, and her grand slam highlighted an eight-run sixth inning that broke the game open. Avvisato also reached base in all three of her plate appearances in Saturday's second game against Arkansas, finishing 2-for-2 with a walk. Avvisato leads the team with 16 RBI through three weekends, accounting for 25% of the Wildcats' total RBI.
Marina Mason tossed a team-high 10.1 innings in three appearances (two starts over the weekend), striking out 13 and limiting opposing hitters to a .175 batting average. Mason earned the win in Saturday's opener against SEMO, tossing 5.0 innings while allowing one hit and one run and striking out seven, retiring the final 14 batters she faced. Mason also tossed 2.0 scoreless innings on Sunday against the Razorbacks. The first-year right-hander from Brentwood, Tennessee leads the Wildcats this season with 28.2 innings pitched, a .220 opposing batting average and 35 strikeouts.
Riley Grudzielanek and Emma Blea combined to secure Friday's 4-1 win over SEMO. Grudzielanek earned the victory with 5.0 innings in the circle, striking out six while allowing just two hits and one run, including stranding the bases loaded in the fifth inning. Blea closed out the final 2.0 innings to earn the save, permitting no hits and striking out three of the seven batters she faced.
On Saturday against Arkansas, Signe Dohse tossed 6.0 innings, allowing two earned runs. Dohse has thrown 6.0+ innings in both of her starts on the season, and boasts a team-low 0.64 ERA (2 ER/22.0 IP) on the year.
Northwestern will be back in action on Thursday, as the Wildcats travel to Durham, North Carolina, for five games in three days against No. 14 Duke, No. 24 Ohio State (non-conference), and Boston University.
The Wildcats split doubleheaders in their first two days of the weekend. On Friday, the 'Cats opened with a 4-1 win over SEMO before falling 6-0 to the Razorbacks. Saturday followed a similar script, as Northwestern run-ruled SEMO, 12-1, in six innings, before dropping a 7-0 contest to No. 8 Arkansas.
Sunday's finale against Arkansas saw Northwestern drop a 9-8 decision at Bogle Park. After the Razorbacks jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning, Northwestern stormed back with five runs in the top of the third, followed by an Emma Raye solo home run to tie the game in the fourth inning. Arkansas responded with a three-run homer in the fifth inning, and while Northwestern answered with a two-run homer in the top of the seventh, the Wildcats could not complete the comeback.
Northwestern sits at 6-9 on the season, with seven of its nine losses coming against ranked opponents. Collectively, Northwestern's opponents in its nine losses hold a combined record of 88-25 (.779 winning percentage) to date.
Kelsey Nader led the team with a .529 on-base percentage over the five weekend games, going 7-for-15 with a team-high six runs scored. The senior from Canton, Michigan matched her career high with three runs scored in Saturday's win over SEMO, and followed that up with her first three-hit effort of the season on Sunday against Arkansas. Through three weekends, Nader leads the team with a .391 batting average (18-for-46) as well as 11 runs scored.
Raye continued her hot start to 2026, going 7-for-16 in Fayetteville with six RBI, a homer, two doubles and three runs scored. In Sunday's game against the Razorbacks, Raye matched her career high with three hits, driving in three runs with a double and a home run. Raye is hitting .366 (15-for-41) on the season with a team-high .447 on-base percentage and .683 slugging percentage, as seven of her 15 hits have gone for extra bases.
Opposite field off the top of the foul pole!
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) February 22, 2026
Just @EmmaRaye17 things ???? https://t.co/jLp3kefMeP pic.twitter.com/jHIYiyRRxm
Kaylie Avvisato delivered a career performance in Saturday's 12-1 run-rule win over SEMO, going 2-for-4 with a career-high five RBI, a triple and a grand slam. Her two-out RBI triple in the third inning tied the game, and her grand slam highlighted an eight-run sixth inning that broke the game open. Avvisato also reached base in all three of her plate appearances in Saturday's second game against Arkansas, finishing 2-for-2 with a walk. Avvisato leads the team with 16 RBI through three weekends, accounting for 25% of the Wildcats' total RBI.
A Big Saturday for Kaylie Avvisato ?
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) February 21, 2026
Career-high 5?? RBI in the win over SEMO. pic.twitter.com/pEUay6nBNX
Marina Mason tossed a team-high 10.1 innings in three appearances (two starts over the weekend), striking out 13 and limiting opposing hitters to a .175 batting average. Mason earned the win in Saturday's opener against SEMO, tossing 5.0 innings while allowing one hit and one run and striking out seven, retiring the final 14 batters she faced. Mason also tossed 2.0 scoreless innings on Sunday against the Razorbacks. The first-year right-hander from Brentwood, Tennessee leads the Wildcats this season with 28.2 innings pitched, a .220 opposing batting average and 35 strikeouts.
Finished her outing with 14-straight retired.
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) February 21, 2026
Marina Mason turned in another gem ?? pic.twitter.com/yWU7TVTdDF
Riley Grudzielanek and Emma Blea combined to secure Friday's 4-1 win over SEMO. Grudzielanek earned the victory with 5.0 innings in the circle, striking out six while allowing just two hits and one run, including stranding the bases loaded in the fifth inning. Blea closed out the final 2.0 innings to earn the save, permitting no hits and striking out three of the seven batters she faced.
On Saturday against Arkansas, Signe Dohse tossed 6.0 innings, allowing two earned runs. Dohse has thrown 6.0+ innings in both of her starts on the season, and boasts a team-low 0.64 ERA (2 ER/22.0 IP) on the year.
Northwestern will be back in action on Thursday, as the Wildcats travel to Durham, North Carolina, for five games in three days against No. 14 Duke, No. 24 Ohio State (non-conference), and Boston University.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Robyn Herron (6-0)
L: Cunningham, Renae (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Nader, Kelsey 1 ; Raye, Emma 1
HR: Raye, Emma 1 ; Donahey, Bridget 1
RBI: Avvisato, Kaylie 1 ; Raye, Emma 3 ; Donahey, Bridget 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Nieto, Grace 1 ; Nader, Kelsey 1 ; Avvisato, Kaylie 1 ; Raye, Emma 2 ; Medina, Tru 1 ; Robinson, Kansas 1 ; Donahey, Bridget 1
Batting:
2B: Dakota Kennedy 1 ; Ramsey Walker 1 ; Karlie Davison 1
HR: Ella McDowell 1 ; Atalyia Rijo 1
RBI: Ella McDowell 2 ; Brinli Bain 1 ; Atalyia Rijo 3
SH: Reagan Johnson 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Reagan Johnson 1 ; Dakota Kennedy 1 ; Ella McDowell 2 ; Kailey Wyckoff 1 ; Kennedy Miller 1 ; Ramsey Walker 1 ; Atalyia Rijo 2
HBP: Tianna Bell 1 ; Kennedy Miller 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
P/U
/ Softball
P/IF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
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