Northwestern University Athletics
Sunday, February 8
Tempe, Ariz.
11 am CT
Northwestern
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Memphis
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Northwestern
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Memphis
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Photo by: Arianna Grainey
‘Cats Pick Up Three Wins on Opening Weekend
2/8/2026 4:17:00 PM | Softball
Tempe, Ariz. – Northwestern won three of its first five games to kick off its 2026 season at the Kajikawa Classic hosted by Arizona State, including a pair of emphatic run-rule victories in the opener and finale to bookend the weekend.
The Wildcats kicked off the season in style, cruising to a 9-1 win over Toledo in Friday's season opener. As a team, the victory marked Northwestern's first run-rule win in a season opener since an 8-0, five-inning victory over UConn to begin the 2022 season. NU then fell to Texas State, 4-3, later in the day in a back-and-forth contest that ended with a walk-off home run.
Facing two of the premier pitchers at the Kajikawa Classic, Northwestern split its doubleheader on Saturday. In the opener, the 'Cats earned revenge against the 2025 Sun Belt champions with a 7-1 win over Texas State. Six different Wildcats recorded hits against Sun Belt Preseason Pitcher of the Year, Madison Azua, including a trio of multi-hit performances. In the nightcap, Northwestern fell to host Arizona State, 8-0, in six innings, as the 'Cats' bats were stifled by 2025 First Team All-American Kenzie Brown.
To close the weekend, Northwestern bounced back with a 14-5 run-rule victory over Memphis on Sunday.
Grace Nieto led the Wildcats at the plate, recording a hit 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.
Fresh off a stellar rookie campaign, Kaylie Avvisato turned in a stellar weekend to begin her second season in Evanston. The sophomore finished the weekend going 6-for-14 at the plate with a team-high seven RBI and four runs scored. Avvisato drove in four RBI in the 'Cats' win over Toledo on Friday, including a three-run home run, and matched her career high in Sunday's win with three runs scored.
Emma Raye recorded hits in each of the 'Cats' first four games, finishing the weekend with a .917 slugging percentage as she homered in both of Friday's games to kick off the season. Raye also turned in a stout defensive effort behind the plate, catching four runners attempting to steal throughout the weekend.
The 'Cats saw contributions from multiple first-years playing in their first weekend of collegiate action. Starting in the opening day lineup at third base, Tru Medina recorded hits in three different games and finished the weekend hitting .400 (4-for-10) with a .538 on-base percentage. Medina recorded her first-career hit at a crucial time on Friday, hitting a one-out solo home run in the top of the seventh inning to even the score against Texas State at 3-3. Fellow first-year Kate Renschen provided similar heroics 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. In Renschen's very next at-bat, the rookie from St. John, Indiana hit an inside the park home run to left field. In the circle, first-year pitcher 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.
Redshirt-sophomore Signe Dohse turned in a complete game gem in Saturday's 7-1 win over Texas State, tossing a career-high 7.0 innings–the first complete game of her career–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 back in action next weekend at the ESPN Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational, playing five games in four days against stout competition that includes No. 1 Texas Tech (Thursday, 5 pm CT), UCF (Friday, 9 am CT), Missouri (Saturday, 9 am CT), No. 14 Georgia (Saturday, 12 pm CT) and No. 7 Texas A&M (Sunday, 11 am CT). The first four games of the weekend can be streamed on ESPN+, while Sunday's matchup with the Aggies will be broadcast on ESPN2.
The Wildcats kicked off the season in style, cruising to a 9-1 win over Toledo in Friday's season opener. As a team, the victory marked Northwestern's first run-rule win in a season opener since an 8-0, five-inning victory over UConn to begin the 2022 season. NU then fell to Texas State, 4-3, later in the day in a back-and-forth contest that ended with a walk-off home run.
Facing two of the premier pitchers at the Kajikawa Classic, Northwestern split its doubleheader on Saturday. In the opener, the 'Cats earned revenge against the 2025 Sun Belt champions with a 7-1 win over Texas State. Six different Wildcats recorded hits against Sun Belt Preseason Pitcher of the Year, Madison Azua, including a trio of multi-hit performances. In the nightcap, Northwestern fell to host Arizona State, 8-0, in six innings, as the 'Cats' bats were stifled by 2025 First Team All-American Kenzie Brown.
To close the weekend, Northwestern bounced back with a 14-5 run-rule victory over Memphis on Sunday.
Grace Nieto led the Wildcats at the plate, recording a hit 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.
First at-bat of 2026 ??
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) February 6, 2026
Grace Nieto HOME RUN ???? pic.twitter.com/zVlFgljprk
Fresh off a stellar rookie campaign, Kaylie Avvisato turned in a stellar weekend to begin her second season in Evanston. The sophomore finished the weekend going 6-for-14 at the plate with a team-high seven RBI and four runs scored. Avvisato drove in four RBI in the 'Cats' win over Toledo on Friday, including a three-run home run, and matched her career high in Sunday's win with three runs scored.
Emma Raye recorded hits in each of the 'Cats' first four games, finishing the weekend with a .917 slugging percentage as she homered in both of Friday's games to kick off the season. Raye also turned in a stout defensive effort behind the plate, catching four runners attempting to steal throughout the weekend.
Opening day power surge ??@EmmaRaye17 started off her junior year with two homers in two games. pic.twitter.com/XxRFhAK5ey
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) February 6, 2026
The 'Cats saw contributions from multiple first-years playing in their first weekend of collegiate action. Starting in the opening day lineup at third base, Tru Medina recorded hits in three different games and finished the weekend hitting .400 (4-for-10) with a .538 on-base percentage. Medina recorded her first-career hit at a crucial time on Friday, hitting a one-out solo home run in the top of the seventh inning to even the score against Texas State at 3-3. Fellow first-year Kate Renschen provided similar heroics 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. In Renschen's very next at-bat, the rookie from St. John, Indiana hit an inside the park home run to left field. In the circle, first-year pitcher 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.
First-Career Homer ??@TruMedina2025 edition ?? https://t.co/elzbWG25bH pic.twitter.com/dVdeOL7Nis
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) February 7, 2026
When your first collegiate at-bat...
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) February 8, 2026
is a PINCH HIT GRAND SLAM ??
?? @KateRenschen ?? pic.twitter.com/xb5Q439rNu
First 2 Collegiate At-Bats ?? 2 Home Runs.@KateRenschen was MOVING on this inside the park homer! ???? pic.twitter.com/PngOsGSMnU
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) February 8, 2026
Redshirt-sophomore Signe Dohse turned in a complete game gem in Saturday's 7-1 win over Texas State, tossing a career-high 7.0 innings–the first complete game of her career–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 back in action next weekend at the ESPN Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational, playing five games in four days against stout competition that includes No. 1 Texas Tech (Thursday, 5 pm CT), UCF (Friday, 9 am CT), Missouri (Saturday, 9 am CT), No. 14 Georgia (Saturday, 12 pm CT) and No. 7 Texas A&M (Sunday, 11 am CT). The first four games of the weekend can be streamed on ESPN+, while Sunday's matchup with the Aggies will be broadcast on ESPN2.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Blea, Emma (1-0)
L: Rylee Dugar (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Avvisato, Kaylie 1 ; Robinson, Kansas 1
HR: Renschen, Kate 2 ; Donahey, Bridget 1
RBI: Nieto, Grace 1 ; Avvisato, Kaylie 2 ; Robinson, Kansas 3 ; Renschen, Kate 5 ; Donahey, Bridget 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nieto, Grace 1 ; McCue, Teagan 1 ; Nader, Kelsey 1 ; Avvisato, Kaylie 3 ; Raye, Emma 1 ; Minarovic, Grace 1 ; Robinson, Kansas 2 ; Renschen, Kate 2 ; Medina, Tru 1 ; Donahey, Bridget 1
SB: Medina, Tru 1
HBP: Raye, Emma 1 ; Donahey, Bridget 1
Batting:
RBI: Aubrey Williams 1 ; Paris Brienesse 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kennedy Semien 1 ; Deana Cunningham 1 ; Jasmine Mack 1 ; Aubrey Williams 2
SB: Aubrey Williams 1
CS: Paris Brienesse 1
Game Leaders
ph/2b
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
3
H
2
RBI
2
ph/lf
AB
2
R
2
H
2
RBI
5
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
IF
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P/U
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P/IF
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IF
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OF
/ SoftballSoftball - Lauren Boyd Tosses Complete Game Shutout, 'Cats Blank Kentucky in NCAA Regional (5/16/25)
Friday, May 16
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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
