Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, March 20
Urbana-Champaign, IL
5 pm CT
Northwestern
at
Illinois
Wildcats Ready for Three-Game Series at Illinois
3/19/2026 4:22:00 PM | Softball
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Following a four-game weekend sweep at Northern Kentucky, Northwestern resumes Big Ten play with a trip downstate for a three-game series at Illinois.
The Wildcats outscored their opponents last weekend, 45-8, behind eight different home run hitters, taking three games in run-rule fashion.
Last year, Northwestern took two of three games over Illinois during a weekend series in Evanston. The Wildcats opened with a 4-3 victory on Saturday, then dropped a 2-1 decision on Sunday before locking up an 8-2 win to lock up the series victory in the series finale which marked the 800th career win for head coach Kate Drohan and associate head coach Caryl Drohan. Over the last three seasons, Northwestern is 6-1 against its in-state foes, outscoring the Fighting Illini in those games by a combined 43-8 margin.
The Wildcats have won their last five games played in Champaign, earning run-rule victories at Illinois in 2024 (8-0 in six innings) and 2023 (12-0 in five innings), while also going 3-0 in the 2023 Big Ten Tournament in Eichelberger Field en route to capturing the Big Ten Tournament title.
Emma Raye leads Northwestern offensively with a .357 batting average, 26 RBI, a .447 on-base percentage and a .714 slugging percentage, already surpassing her 2025 RBI total. Last weekend, Raye powered the offense by going 6-for-10 with 15 RBI, three home runs and a 1.700 slugging percentage, highlighted by a career-high seven-RBI performance and the first multi-homer game of her career in a win over Northern Kentucky on Friday.
Grace Nieto has set the tone at the top of the lineup, scoring a team-high 24 runs this season while posting a .426 on-base percentage. The leadoff hitter drew five walks and scored nine runs last weekend, reaching base at a .615 clip, and also homered in a win over Northern Iowa on Saturday. In last season's series against Illinois, Nieto reached base three times in NU's game one win, and added a two-run homer in the series-clinching win.
Kaylie Avvisato enters the weekend hitting .303 with 22 RBI, ranking second on the team in run production. The sophomore recorded a hit in all four games last weekend, going 6-for-12 with seven runs scored, five RBI and a .600 on-base percentage, while adding a two-run homer in Friday's win over Northern Kentucky.
Avery Garden is hitting .360 (9-for-25) over the last three weekends. Garden continued that momentum in Kentucky, going 4-for-8 with four RBI and three runs scored, including a two-run homer in Friday's win over Northern Kentucky. Isabel Cunnea followed with home runs in back-to-back games, including a go-ahead blast against Detroit Mercy on Saturday.
Bridget Donahey delivered a power surge from the middle of the 'Cats lineup last weekend, driving in six RBI while posting a 1.111 slugging percentage and .500 on-base percentage. The senior homered twice in Friday's opener against Detroit Mercy, matching her career high with four RBI and recording the second multi-home-run game of her career.
In the circle, Northwestern limited opponents to a .111 batting average across four games last weekend, with four different pitchers earning wins. Marina Mason leads the team with 53.0 innings pitched and 62 strikeouts. The rookie tossed her fourth complete game of the season in Saturday's win over Northern Iowa, allowing two runs over 6.0 innings while striking out six.
Riley Grudzielanek leads the Wildcats with a .186 opposing batting average and holds a 4-2 record on the season. She logged a team-high 9.1 innings last weekend, earning a win with a complete game against Northern Kentucky. In last year's matchup against Illinois, Grudzielanek struck out a career-high 11 batters while allowing no earned runs.
Following this series, Northwestern will open its home slate at The Ballpark at Rosemont with six straight games, beginning with a three-game series against No. 16 Oregon on Thursday, March 26.
The Wildcats outscored their opponents last weekend, 45-8, behind eight different home run hitters, taking three games in run-rule fashion.
Last year, Northwestern took two of three games over Illinois during a weekend series in Evanston. The Wildcats opened with a 4-3 victory on Saturday, then dropped a 2-1 decision on Sunday before locking up an 8-2 win to lock up the series victory in the series finale which marked the 800th career win for head coach Kate Drohan and associate head coach Caryl Drohan. Over the last three seasons, Northwestern is 6-1 against its in-state foes, outscoring the Fighting Illini in those games by a combined 43-8 margin.
The Wildcats have won their last five games played in Champaign, earning run-rule victories at Illinois in 2024 (8-0 in six innings) and 2023 (12-0 in five innings), while also going 3-0 in the 2023 Big Ten Tournament in Eichelberger Field en route to capturing the Big Ten Tournament title.
Emma Raye leads Northwestern offensively with a .357 batting average, 26 RBI, a .447 on-base percentage and a .714 slugging percentage, already surpassing her 2025 RBI total. Last weekend, Raye powered the offense by going 6-for-10 with 15 RBI, three home runs and a 1.700 slugging percentage, highlighted by a career-high seven-RBI performance and the first multi-homer game of her career in a win over Northern Kentucky on Friday.
Grace Nieto has set the tone at the top of the lineup, scoring a team-high 24 runs this season while posting a .426 on-base percentage. The leadoff hitter drew five walks and scored nine runs last weekend, reaching base at a .615 clip, and also homered in a win over Northern Iowa on Saturday. In last season's series against Illinois, Nieto reached base three times in NU's game one win, and added a two-run homer in the series-clinching win.
Kaylie Avvisato enters the weekend hitting .303 with 22 RBI, ranking second on the team in run production. The sophomore recorded a hit in all four games last weekend, going 6-for-12 with seven runs scored, five RBI and a .600 on-base percentage, while adding a two-run homer in Friday's win over Northern Kentucky.
Avery Garden is hitting .360 (9-for-25) over the last three weekends. Garden continued that momentum in Kentucky, going 4-for-8 with four RBI and three runs scored, including a two-run homer in Friday's win over Northern Kentucky. Isabel Cunnea followed with home runs in back-to-back games, including a go-ahead blast against Detroit Mercy on Saturday.
Bridget Donahey delivered a power surge from the middle of the 'Cats lineup last weekend, driving in six RBI while posting a 1.111 slugging percentage and .500 on-base percentage. The senior homered twice in Friday's opener against Detroit Mercy, matching her career high with four RBI and recording the second multi-home-run game of her career.
In the circle, Northwestern limited opponents to a .111 batting average across four games last weekend, with four different pitchers earning wins. Marina Mason leads the team with 53.0 innings pitched and 62 strikeouts. The rookie tossed her fourth complete game of the season in Saturday's win over Northern Iowa, allowing two runs over 6.0 innings while striking out six.
Riley Grudzielanek leads the Wildcats with a .186 opposing batting average and holds a 4-2 record on the season. She logged a team-high 9.1 innings last weekend, earning a win with a complete game against Northern Kentucky. In last year's matchup against Illinois, Grudzielanek struck out a career-high 11 batters while allowing no earned runs.
Following this series, Northwestern will open its home slate at The Ballpark at Rosemont with six straight games, beginning with a three-game series against No. 16 Oregon on Thursday, March 26.
Players Mentioned
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