Wildcats Drop Series to No. 17 Oregon

Thursday, March 26

Rosemont, Ill.

1 pm CT

Northwestern

16-14, 0

#17 Oregon

24-9, 0

Oregon

Northwestern

Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics

3/28/2026 10:44:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score 3

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Northwestern took one of three games in a weekend series against No. 17 Oregon at The Ballpark at Rosemont. The Wildcats earned an 11-3 run-rule victory over the Ducks in Thursday's series opener, before falling, 4-0, on Friday evening and dropping a 4-2 decision on Saturday afternoon.

Thursday's win marked the first ranked victory for Northwestern on the season, as well as the Wildcats' first run-rule over a ranked opponent since taking down No. 8 UCLA, 8-0, on May 2, 2025. The Wildcats posted nine hits on the afternoon, seven of which went for extra-bases. Three of those extra-base hits were triples (all coming in the fifth inning), which tied single-game program records set in 2014 and 1986.

The Wildcats' bats were stifled on Friday evening in a 4-0 Ducks victory despite a pair of solid relief appearances from Signe Dohse (3.0 IP, two hits, no earned runs) and Riley Grudzielanek (1.0 IP, one hit, no runs).

Saturday's rubber match saw Marina Mason tie her career high in the circle with nine strikeouts, allowing four runs (three earned) in 5.0 innings. Oregon took a 4-2 lead heading into the seventh inning before plating three more runs in the top of the frame. In the bottom of the seventh, four of the first five Wildcats batters reached base to cut the deficit to 7-3, load the bases, and send the tying run to the plate with one out. With Bridget Donahey facing a 2-0 count, the clock reached 3 pm CT, triggering a drop-dead time due to Oregon's travel, resulting in the score reverting back to the start of the inning and a 4-2 final.

First-year Tru Medina led the offense over the weekend, going 3-for-6 with a homer, a triple, a double, three RBI and five runs scored in her first home series as a Wildcat. Medina posted a double, a triple and drove in two RBI in Thursday's win and started the scoring on Saturday with a solo homer, her fourth of the season. In total, nine of Medina's 16 hits on the year have gone for extra bases.

Kaylie Avvisato finished the weekend with a .500 on-base percentage and an .889 slugging percentage, going 4-for-9 with two doubles, a triple, a run scored and a team-high five RBI. Avvisato posted three hits and four RBI in Thursday's win, making her team-best third three-hit performance of the year. The sophomore has now reached base in 10 consecutive games and holds a .999 OPS on the season which ranks second on the team behind only Emma Raye.

Kelsey Nader reached base three times in Thursday's win, going 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and three runs scored. Nader finished the weekend going 3-for-8, and now boasts a .337 batting average on the season.

Mason allowed just one earned run in 6.0 innings in Thursday's win en route to her team-high seventh complete game this year. With 13 strikeouts this weekend, Mason brings her total to 85 strikeouts on the season, already the most by a Wildcat rookie since Danielle Williams in 2019. Mason finished the weekend with a 2.55 ERA (4 ER/11.0 IP), she now sits at a team-best 2.33 ERA in 78.0 IP on the year.

Northwestern has now played 13 games this season against ranked opponents (seven different opponents). The Wildcats will continue their homestand in Rosemont next weekend as they welcome in Michigan. The 'Cats and Wolverines will play back-to-back 7 pm CT contests on Friday and Saturday on B1G+, before closing the weekend at 1:30 pm CT on Sunday, airing live on Big Ten Network.