Northwestern University Athletics

Wildcats Drop Series at Washington
3/8/2026 6:13:00 PM | Softball
SEATTLE – Northwestern dropped its first Big Ten series of the season, losing three games to No. 22 Washington over the weekend at Husky Softball Stadium.
Washington jumped out to an early 7-0 lead on Friday before rainy conditions forced the game to be suspended in the bottom of the third inning. When play resumed, the Huskies extended their lead en route to a 13-2 run-rule victory in five innings.
In the second game on Saturday, Marina Mason tossed a gem in the circle, allowing just three hits and no earned runs while striking out six. However, a pair of NU throwing errors in the bottom of the sixth inning proved to be the difference in a 2-0 setback.
On Sunday, the Wildcats jumped out to an early lead courtesy of a two-out, two-run home run by Kansas Robinson in the first inning, followed by two more runs in the top of the second frame. However, Washington responded with three long balls to take the weekend finale, 10-4.
Northwestern (8-14) has now had 11 of its 14 losses come against ranked opponents to start the season. Over the first five weekends of the season, the 'Cats have played 11 different opponents that qualified for last year's NCAA Tournament.
Robinson led the Wildcats at the plate over the weekend, going 3-for-8 with a .750 slugging percentage and two runs scored. The senior now leads the team with four home runs on the season, and her 16 RBI ranks second on the team. Over the last two weekends of action, Robinson is hitting .381 (8-for-21) with three homers, seven RBI, and five runs scored to go along with a team-best .857 slugging percentage.
Bridget Donahey provided two RBI in game one of the series, driving in two runs with a two-out triple in the fourth inning. Also providing a pair of extra-base hits throughout the weekend was Avery Garden, who recorded a triple on Saturday followed by a double on Sunday.
Mason pitched a team-high 7.0 innings in two appearances throughout the weekend. Her outing on Saturday marked her fifth start of the season in which she faced pitched 5.0+ innings while allowing one earned run or fewer.
Pitching in relief on Sunday, Emma Blea allowed just one run in 3.2 innings pitched. In her five relief appearances this season, Blea holds a 1.37 ERA (3 ER/15.1 IP), with six strikeouts and a .193 opponent batting average.
Northwestern will take a one-week pause from conference play, as the Wildcats head to Highland Heights, Kentucky next weekend for four games in two days against Detroit Mercy (x2), Northern Iowa and the hosts Northern Kentucky. The 'Cats will resume Big Ten play with a three-game set downstate at Illinois from March 20-22.
Washington jumped out to an early 7-0 lead on Friday before rainy conditions forced the game to be suspended in the bottom of the third inning. When play resumed, the Huskies extended their lead en route to a 13-2 run-rule victory in five innings.
In the second game on Saturday, Marina Mason tossed a gem in the circle, allowing just three hits and no earned runs while striking out six. However, a pair of NU throwing errors in the bottom of the sixth inning proved to be the difference in a 2-0 setback.
On Sunday, the Wildcats jumped out to an early lead courtesy of a two-out, two-run home run by Kansas Robinson in the first inning, followed by two more runs in the top of the second frame. However, Washington responded with three long balls to take the weekend finale, 10-4.
Northwestern (8-14) has now had 11 of its 14 losses come against ranked opponents to start the season. Over the first five weekends of the season, the 'Cats have played 11 different opponents that qualified for last year's NCAA Tournament.
Robinson led the Wildcats at the plate over the weekend, going 3-for-8 with a .750 slugging percentage and two runs scored. The senior now leads the team with four home runs on the season, and her 16 RBI ranks second on the team. Over the last two weekends of action, Robinson is hitting .381 (8-for-21) with three homers, seven RBI, and five runs scored to go along with a team-best .857 slugging percentage.
Fire us UP, Kansas Robinson! ????
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) March 8, 2026
Two-out, two-run homer puts us in front!
T1 | NU 2, UW 0 pic.twitter.com/FCmGr5pkeN
Bridget Donahey provided two RBI in game one of the series, driving in two runs with a two-out triple in the fourth inning. Also providing a pair of extra-base hits throughout the weekend was Avery Garden, who recorded a triple on Saturday followed by a double on Sunday.
Mason pitched a team-high 7.0 innings in two appearances throughout the weekend. Her outing on Saturday marked her fifth start of the season in which she faced pitched 5.0+ innings while allowing one earned run or fewer.
Pitching in relief on Sunday, Emma Blea allowed just one run in 3.2 innings pitched. In her five relief appearances this season, Blea holds a 1.37 ERA (3 ER/15.1 IP), with six strikeouts and a .193 opponent batting average.
Northwestern will take a one-week pause from conference play, as the Wildcats head to Highland Heights, Kentucky next weekend for four games in two days against Detroit Mercy (x2), Northern Iowa and the hosts Northern Kentucky. The 'Cats will resume Big Ten play with a three-game set downstate at Illinois from March 20-22.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Morgan Reimer (11-1)
L: Blea, Emma (1-2)

Batting:
3B: Donahey, Bridget 1
RBI: Donahey, Bridget 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Minarovic, Grace 1 ; Robinson, Kansas 1

Batting:
2B: Ally Hetzel 1
HR: Alexis DeBoer 1 ; Giselle Alvarez 1
RBI: Jadyn Glab 1 ; Alexis DeBoer 3 ; Giselle Alvarez 4 ; Ally Hetzel 1 ; Ava Carroll 1 ; Jade Bubke 2 ; Sophi Mazzola 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jadyn Glab 1 ; Alexis DeBoer 4 ; Giselle Alvarez 2 ; Ally Hetzel 1 ; Ava Carroll 1 ; Melody Acevedo 1 ; Kaycie Burdick 3
HBP: Sophi Mazzola 1 ; Kaycie Burdick 1
PO: Sophi Mazzola 1
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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