Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, March 20
Urbana-Champaign, IL
5 pm CT
Northwestern
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Illinois
8-21, 0
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Northwestern
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6
10
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Illinois
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Wildcats Sweep Weekend Series at Illinois, Extend Winning Streak to Seven
3/22/2026 9:10:00 PM | Softball
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Northwestern dominated a weekend series at Illinois, sweeping a three-game set by a combined 30-6 margin. The weekend was capped off by a no-hitter from first-year pitcher Marina Mason in Sunday's finale in what marked the first no-hitter of her career.
The Wildcats never trailed throughout the weekend as the Northwestern offense combined for a .330 batting average (30-for-91) and 16 extra-base hits while limiting the Fighting Illini bats to just a .132 combined average (9-for-68). The 'Cats are now riding a seven-game winning streak, their longest winning streak since also winning seven in a row from Feb. 28-March 16 in 2025.
Mason finished the weekend 2-0 in the circle with a 0.50 ERA (1 ER/14.0 IP) and a .044 opponent batting average while striking out 10. In total, she allowed just two hits across 50 batters faced in her two appearances. During Friday's win, the right-hander carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning before a one-out single broke up the bid. In her very next outing on Sunday, Mason tossed a no-hitter in a 7.0 inning gem, throwing 111 pitches while striking out three batters en route to a 5-0 Wildcat win.
Mason's no-hitter on Sunday marked Northwestern's 54th no-hitter in program history, as well as the first in conference play since 2021 (Danielle Williams at Iowa). It also marks the first by an NU first year since 2011 (Sammy Albanese in 5.0 innings at Saint Mary's) and first 7.0 inning no-hitter by an NU rookie since 2007 (Lauren Delaney vs. Illinois). The Brentwood, Tennessee native is the first Northwestern pitcher to throw multiple 7.0 inning complete games in a conference series weekend since 2024 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Ashley Miller did so in 2024 (April 12-14 vs. Maryland).
During Friday's 6-1 win, Northwestern jumped out to an early lead after a pair of clutch two-out RBI hits from Kansas Robinson and Bridget Donahey in the third inning gave the 'Cats a 2-0 advantage. Emma Raye extended the lead in the fifth inning with a two-run home run and finished the game with three RBI. Mason finished the game with seven strikeouts in her 7.0 innings of work.
On Saturday, the Northwestern offense erupted for 12 runs in the top of the fist inning to give pitcher Riley Grudzielanek a 12-0 lead before she stepped into the circle. It marked the second-most runs in a single inning in program history, trailing only a 14-run outburst against Virginia on February 12, 2016. The Wildcats tacked on three more runs in the second inning, one in the third and three in the fourth inning on their way to a 19-5 run-rule win in five innings. 19 runs scored marked the sixth-most runs scored in a single game in program history. Grudzielanek earned the win in the circle, improving to 5-2 while throwing her third complete game on the season.
In Sunday's 5-0 win, Northwestern jumped out to a lead in the second inning after Isabel Cunnea capped off a 16 pitch at-bat with a two-out RBI-double to drive in Kelsey Nader. The following inning, the Wildcats extended their lead to five as Grace Nieto led off the frame with a solo homer, followed by a two-out bases-clearing double from Avery Garden. Mason handled the rest in the circle, walking just four batters as she finished with her sixth complete game and second shutout of the season.
Raye led the Wildcat offense for the second weekend in a row with eight RBI, two home runs, a 1.571 slugging percentage and a .769 on-base percentage. The junior went 4-for-7 while also drawing five walks over the weekend, finishing with five runs scored. Raye now leads the team with a .377 batting average, eight home runs, a .792 slugging percentage, a .490 on-base percentage and 34 RBI–already surpassing her career high of 32 RBI from 2024.
Bridget Donahey homered twice in the Wildcats' 19-run outburst on Saturday, marking her second-straight weekend with a multi-homer game. Her .638 slugging percentage on the season ranks second on the team only to Raye, while her six home runs are tied with Robinson for second on the team. Robinson finished the weekend going 4-for-11 with four RBI and a home run of her own on Saturday.
Kaylie Avvisato led the team over the weekend with seven runs, including a career-high four runs scored in Saturday's win. Fellow sophomore Garden finished the weekend going 4-for-8 with three RBI and two runs scored. Hitting atop the Wildcats' lineup, Nieto posted a .583 on-base percentage as she finished 4-for-9 with three walks, four runs scored and three RBI.
Northwestern has now won nine of its last 10 games against Illinois, outscoring the Fighting Illini in those games by a combined 73-14 margin. Additionally, the Wildcats have now won their last eight games played at Illinois' Eichelberger Field.
Next on the schedule, Northwestern will open its home slate at The Ballpark at Rosemont with six-straight games, beginning with a three-game series vs. No. 16 Oregon starting on Thursday, March 26. First pitch is scheduled for 7 pm CT on Big Ten Network.
The Wildcats never trailed throughout the weekend as the Northwestern offense combined for a .330 batting average (30-for-91) and 16 extra-base hits while limiting the Fighting Illini bats to just a .132 combined average (9-for-68). The 'Cats are now riding a seven-game winning streak, their longest winning streak since also winning seven in a row from Feb. 28-March 16 in 2025.
NO-HITTER FOR MARINA MASON ???? pic.twitter.com/AJjuVKTO2O
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) March 22, 2026
Mason finished the weekend 2-0 in the circle with a 0.50 ERA (1 ER/14.0 IP) and a .044 opponent batting average while striking out 10. In total, she allowed just two hits across 50 batters faced in her two appearances. During Friday's win, the right-hander carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning before a one-out single broke up the bid. In her very next outing on Sunday, Mason tossed a no-hitter in a 7.0 inning gem, throwing 111 pitches while striking out three batters en route to a 5-0 Wildcat win.
Mason's no-hitter on Sunday marked Northwestern's 54th no-hitter in program history, as well as the first in conference play since 2021 (Danielle Williams at Iowa). It also marks the first by an NU first year since 2011 (Sammy Albanese in 5.0 innings at Saint Mary's) and first 7.0 inning no-hitter by an NU rookie since 2007 (Lauren Delaney vs. Illinois). The Brentwood, Tennessee native is the first Northwestern pitcher to throw multiple 7.0 inning complete games in a conference series weekend since 2024 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Ashley Miller did so in 2024 (April 12-14 vs. Maryland).
During Friday's 6-1 win, Northwestern jumped out to an early lead after a pair of clutch two-out RBI hits from Kansas Robinson and Bridget Donahey in the third inning gave the 'Cats a 2-0 advantage. Emma Raye extended the lead in the fifth inning with a two-run home run and finished the game with three RBI. Mason finished the game with seven strikeouts in her 7.0 innings of work.
On Saturday, the Northwestern offense erupted for 12 runs in the top of the fist inning to give pitcher Riley Grudzielanek a 12-0 lead before she stepped into the circle. It marked the second-most runs in a single inning in program history, trailing only a 14-run outburst against Virginia on February 12, 2016. The Wildcats tacked on three more runs in the second inning, one in the third and three in the fourth inning on their way to a 19-5 run-rule win in five innings. 19 runs scored marked the sixth-most runs scored in a single game in program history. Grudzielanek earned the win in the circle, improving to 5-2 while throwing her third complete game on the season.
In Sunday's 5-0 win, Northwestern jumped out to a lead in the second inning after Isabel Cunnea capped off a 16 pitch at-bat with a two-out RBI-double to drive in Kelsey Nader. The following inning, the Wildcats extended their lead to five as Grace Nieto led off the frame with a solo homer, followed by a two-out bases-clearing double from Avery Garden. Mason handled the rest in the circle, walking just four batters as she finished with her sixth complete game and second shutout of the season.
Raye led the Wildcat offense for the second weekend in a row with eight RBI, two home runs, a 1.571 slugging percentage and a .769 on-base percentage. The junior went 4-for-7 while also drawing five walks over the weekend, finishing with five runs scored. Raye now leads the team with a .377 batting average, eight home runs, a .792 slugging percentage, a .490 on-base percentage and 34 RBI–already surpassing her career high of 32 RBI from 2024.
Bridget Donahey homered twice in the Wildcats' 19-run outburst on Saturday, marking her second-straight weekend with a multi-homer game. Her .638 slugging percentage on the season ranks second on the team only to Raye, while her six home runs are tied with Robinson for second on the team. Robinson finished the weekend going 4-for-11 with four RBI and a home run of her own on Saturday.
Kaylie Avvisato led the team over the weekend with seven runs, including a career-high four runs scored in Saturday's win. Fellow sophomore Garden finished the weekend going 4-for-8 with three RBI and two runs scored. Hitting atop the Wildcats' lineup, Nieto posted a .583 on-base percentage as she finished 4-for-9 with three walks, four runs scored and three RBI.
Northwestern has now won nine of its last 10 games against Illinois, outscoring the Fighting Illini in those games by a combined 73-14 margin. Additionally, the Wildcats have now won their last eight games played at Illinois' Eichelberger Field.
Next on the schedule, Northwestern will open its home slate at The Ballpark at Rosemont with six-straight games, beginning with a three-game series vs. No. 16 Oregon starting on Thursday, March 26. First pitch is scheduled for 7 pm CT on Big Ten Network.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Mason, Marina (5-7)
L: Yergler,K (2-8)
Batting:
2B: Avvisato, Kaylie 1 ; Donahey, Bridget 1
HR: Raye, Emma 1
RBI: Nieto, Grace 1 ; Raye, Emma 3 ; Robinson, Kansas 1 ; Donahey, Bridget 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nieto, Grace 1 ; Avvisato, Kaylie 2 ; Raye, Emma 1 ; Robinson, Kansas 1 ; Garden, Avery 1
SB: Donahey, Bridget 1
CS: Nieto, Grace 1
HBP: Garden, Avery 1
Batting:
2B: Yeager,J 1
RBI: Yeager,J 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Stang,B 1
SB: Miller,A 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
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H
2
RBI
1
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3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
IF
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OF
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IF
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UTL
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P/IF
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P
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OF
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IF
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IF
/ SoftballSoftball - Marina Mason Throws No-Hitter, 'Cats Secure Series Sweep at Illinois (3/22/26)
Sunday, March 22
Softball - Wildcats Erupt in 19-5 Run-Rule Win, Capture Series Victory at Illinois (3/21/26)
Saturday, March 21
Softball - Wildcats Open Series at Illinois with 6-1 Win Behind Marina Mason Complete Game (3/20/26)
Saturday, March 21
Softball - Marina Mason Tosses Complete Game Shutout, 'Cats Blank Missouri in Clearwater (2/14/26)
Saturday, February 14
