Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, February 6
Tempe, Ariz.
11 am CT
Northwestern
vs
Toledo
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
Wildcats Kick Off 2026 Campaign at Kajikawa Classic
2/5/2026 6:20:00 PM | Softball
Tempe, Ariz. – After an exciting 2025 campaign that saw the Wildcats earn their seventh-straight NCAA tournament berth, Northwestern Softball begins their 2026 season with a trip to the Kajikawa Classic for five games in three days.
Northwestern opens the season with a Friday doubleheader against Toledo and Texas State. The 'Cats will then match up with Texas State and Arizona State on Saturday, before finishing the weekend playing Memphis on Sunday. Fans can stream the matchup with Arizona State at 7:15 pm CT on ESPN+.
Northwestern head coach Kate Drohan returns for her 25th season as a six-time Big Ten Coach of the Year, and the longest tenured head coach in program history. Drohan and her twin sister, associate head coach Caryl Drohan, are Northwestern's all-time wins leaders with 810 victories, the fourth-most in Big Ten history. Under the Drohans, the Wildcats have appeared in 18 NCAA tournaments, seven NCAA Super Regionals, and three Women's College World Series, most recently in 2022.
The Wildcats return eight out of nine hitters in the starting lineup, who accounted for 92% of their offensive production in 2025. The lineup is led by returning seniors Bridget Donahey, Kelsey Nader, and Kansas Robinson. Donahey led Northwestern with a .994 OPS last season, including a 1.125 mark in Big Ten play. Donahey and Robinson also tied for the team lead with eight home runs apiece. Robinson led the 'Cats with 22 extra base hits and 41 RBI, she enters play in 2026 with the eighth-highest career slugging percentage in program history (.600).
Nader begins 2026 with the ninth-highest career batting average in program history (.343), on the heels of a junior year in which she led Northwestern with a .454 on-base percentage and 17 multi-hit games, while also posting a .954 OPS and 21 RBI.
Northwestern also brings back sophomore Kaylie Avvisato, who returns after earning All-Big Ten Freshman Team honors and posting a .348 average, along with a .917 OPS and five home runs. Avvisato also led the Wildcats with 85 total bases and stole 22 bags, the most by any Big Ten first-year.
The lineup stays deep with a number of standout returners, including junior Isabel Cunnea, who led the Wildcats with a .360 batting average in 2025, as well as graduate student Grace Nieto, who boasted a .329 average and .801 OPS while racking up 53 hits. Also returning are starters Avery Garden and Emma Raye, who combined for 86 total bases and seven home runs in 2026.
In the circle, Northwestern returners are led by junior Riley Grudzielanek, who posted a 2.94 ERA in Big Ten play over nine appearances while racking up 27 strikeouts. Also coming back is redshirt Sophomore Signe Dohse, who recorded a 3.57 ERA in 47.0 innings to go along with 26 strikeouts, as well as juniors Renae Cunningham and sophomore Emma Blea.
This year's first-year class includes infielders Tru Medina (Hanover Park, Ill.) and Teagan McCue (Bourbonnais, Ill.), outfielder Kate Renschen (St. John, Ind.), catcher Kylee Jensen (Marengo, Ill.), and pitcher Marina Mason (Brentwood, Tenn.). The Wildcats also added graduate transfer Abby Harvey, who arrives from Indiana Wesleyan after a senior season in which she batted .426 en route to earning NFCA/NAIA Second-Team All-America honors.
Northwestern last faced Toledo in the 2023 Cardinal Classic, and have not faced Texas State since a loss in the NCAA Regionals in 2009. The Wildcats last faced Arizona State in the 2024 Kajikawa Classic, and hold an 8-12 all-time record against the Sun Devils. Sunday's matchup will mark the first between Memphis and Northwestern.
Following this weekend's series, Northwestern heads to Clearwater, Florida for five games at the ESPN Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational.
Northwestern opens the season with a Friday doubleheader against Toledo and Texas State. The 'Cats will then match up with Texas State and Arizona State on Saturday, before finishing the weekend playing Memphis on Sunday. Fans can stream the matchup with Arizona State at 7:15 pm CT on ESPN+.
Northwestern head coach Kate Drohan returns for her 25th season as a six-time Big Ten Coach of the Year, and the longest tenured head coach in program history. Drohan and her twin sister, associate head coach Caryl Drohan, are Northwestern's all-time wins leaders with 810 victories, the fourth-most in Big Ten history. Under the Drohans, the Wildcats have appeared in 18 NCAA tournaments, seven NCAA Super Regionals, and three Women's College World Series, most recently in 2022.
The Wildcats return eight out of nine hitters in the starting lineup, who accounted for 92% of their offensive production in 2025. The lineup is led by returning seniors Bridget Donahey, Kelsey Nader, and Kansas Robinson. Donahey led Northwestern with a .994 OPS last season, including a 1.125 mark in Big Ten play. Donahey and Robinson also tied for the team lead with eight home runs apiece. Robinson led the 'Cats with 22 extra base hits and 41 RBI, she enters play in 2026 with the eighth-highest career slugging percentage in program history (.600).
Nader begins 2026 with the ninth-highest career batting average in program history (.343), on the heels of a junior year in which she led Northwestern with a .454 on-base percentage and 17 multi-hit games, while also posting a .954 OPS and 21 RBI.
Northwestern also brings back sophomore Kaylie Avvisato, who returns after earning All-Big Ten Freshman Team honors and posting a .348 average, along with a .917 OPS and five home runs. Avvisato also led the Wildcats with 85 total bases and stole 22 bags, the most by any Big Ten first-year.
The lineup stays deep with a number of standout returners, including junior Isabel Cunnea, who led the Wildcats with a .360 batting average in 2025, as well as graduate student Grace Nieto, who boasted a .329 average and .801 OPS while racking up 53 hits. Also returning are starters Avery Garden and Emma Raye, who combined for 86 total bases and seven home runs in 2026.
In the circle, Northwestern returners are led by junior Riley Grudzielanek, who posted a 2.94 ERA in Big Ten play over nine appearances while racking up 27 strikeouts. Also coming back is redshirt Sophomore Signe Dohse, who recorded a 3.57 ERA in 47.0 innings to go along with 26 strikeouts, as well as juniors Renae Cunningham and sophomore Emma Blea.
This year's first-year class includes infielders Tru Medina (Hanover Park, Ill.) and Teagan McCue (Bourbonnais, Ill.), outfielder Kate Renschen (St. John, Ind.), catcher Kylee Jensen (Marengo, Ill.), and pitcher Marina Mason (Brentwood, Tenn.). The Wildcats also added graduate transfer Abby Harvey, who arrives from Indiana Wesleyan after a senior season in which she batted .426 en route to earning NFCA/NAIA Second-Team All-America honors.
Northwestern last faced Toledo in the 2023 Cardinal Classic, and have not faced Texas State since a loss in the NCAA Regionals in 2009. The Wildcats last faced Arizona State in the 2024 Kajikawa Classic, and hold an 8-12 all-time record against the Sun Devils. Sunday's matchup will mark the first between Memphis and Northwestern.
Following this weekend's series, Northwestern heads to Clearwater, Florida for five games at the ESPN Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational.
Players Mentioned
IF
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OF
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P/U
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IF
/ Softball
UTL
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P/IF
/ Softball
C/OF
/ Softball
C/UTL
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P
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
IF
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OF
/ Softball
IF
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OF
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IF
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