Northwestern University Athletics
Sunday, April 19
Rosemont, Ill.
6 pm CT
Northwestern
23-19, 11-8
8
vs
0
Michigan State
15-28, 2-15
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Northwestern | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 0 |
Photo by: Christina Lin/Northwestern Athletics
Wildcats Dominate Weekend Series vs. Michigan State, Earn Second-Straight Series Sweep
4/19/2026 11:57:00 PM | Softball
ROSEMONT, Ill. – Northwestern picked up its second-straight Big Ten series sweep with dominant showing at home against Michigan State at The Ballpark at Rosemont, outscoring the Spartans by a 26-7 margin as the Wildcats' extended their winning streak to six-straight games.
The 'Cats opened the weekend with a 10-0 run-rule victory over the Spartans on Friday evening. Northwestern followed that up with an 8-7 victory on Saturday afternoon before closing the weekend with an 8-0 win in five innings on Sunday evening. It marked the 12th run-rule victory of the season for the Wildcats, as well as their fourth run-rule win in their last five games. Northwestern has now won 29-straight games over Michigan State, dating back to 2011.
Marina Mason led the Wildcats in the circle, going 3-0 over the weekend with 13 strikeouts and a pair of complete game shutouts in each of her two starts. On Friday, Mason carried a no-hitter into the fourth inning en route to a one-hit shutout, striking out six in 5.0 innings of work. In Saturday's outing, she entered in relief and allowed two hits in 1.2 innings of work, ultimately stranding the tying run on third base in the seventh inning with a game-sealing strikeout. Making her second start of the weekend on Sunday, the rookie right-hander tossed six strikeouts in 5.0 innings and retired 15 of the 18 batters she faced en route to a two-hit shutout.
Mason did not allow a run in 11.2 innings pitched throughout the weekend, lowering her ERA this season to 2.28 (37 ER/113.2 IP), which leads all rookies in the conference and ranks third behind only Jordy Frahm (Nebraska) and Lyndsey Grein (Oregon). The Brentwood, Tennessee native limited Spartan batters to a .125 opposing average throughout the weekend and now holds a .181 opponent average on the season, which leads all Big Ten pitchers. Mason's five complete game shutouts on the year rank second among all conference arms (trailing only Frahm) and are tied for the most by a Wildcat pitcher since Ashley Miller during her Big Ten Pitcher of the Year campaign in 2024.
The reigning Big Ten Player of the Week Emma Raye made a strong case to become the conference's first back-to-back weekly award winner this season, driving in nine RBI while going 5-for-8 with four extra-base hits (two home runs, a triple, a double–good for a 1.750 slugging percentage) and five runs scored. Raye reached base in 7-of-10 plate appearances and extended her hitting streak to a career-long eight games.
Raye opened the scoring for Northwestern in all three of the Wildcats' wins this weekend, recording an extra-base RBI-hit in the first inning of every game. On Friday, she blasted a one-out double down the left field line and, in the following inning, drove in two more with a triple to center field. On Saturday, Raye hit a three-run homer to center field in the bottom of the first, then once again came through with another RBI-hit in the second inning with a two-out RBI-single. In Sunday's win, Raye homered for the second game in a row, blasting a two-run shot to left field in the first inning in what marked the third time this season that Raye has homered in consecutive games.
Raye raised her batting average this season to a team-leading .412 clip (49-for-119) to go along with an .832 slugging percentage, a .514 on-base percentage, 12 homers and 50 RBI on the year–all of which also lead the team. She is the first Wildcat to reach 50+ RBI in a season since Rachel Lewis (62), Jordyn Rudd (52) and Nikki Cuchran (50) did so in 2022. Raye is three RBI away from passing Rudd for the most RBI by a Northwestern catcher in a single season.
Bridget Donahey also reached base in 7-of-10 plate appearances over the weekend, going 4-for-7 with a homer, a double, three walks, three RBI and three runs scored. Donahey reached base three times in both Saturday and Sunday's wins, going 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored on Saturday followed by a 2-for-2 showing on Sunday with a walk, an RBI-double in the second inning and a two-run homer in the fifth inning. The senior shortstop now ranks second on the team with a 1.080 OPS on the year and has already set career highs with 34 hits, nine homers and 28 RBI on the season.
Tru Medina finished the weekend hitting .429 (3-for-7) with a .581 slugging percentage as she recorded a hit in every game over the weekend, capped off on Sunday by a two-out walk-off double in the fifth inning to score Avery Garden from first base and secure an 8-0 run-rule victory.
At the top of the Wildcats' order, Grace Nieto reached base in 6-of-11 plate appearances (.545), drawing a team-high four walks. The fifth-year senior has already more than doubled her single-season career high with 37 walks on the season (tied for 9th in program history), which ranks second in the Big Ten behind only Megan Grant (54). Nieto's 20 walks in conference play lead all Big Ten hitters. Hitting behind Nieto in the lineup, Kaylie Avvisato extended her reached base streak to a career-high 20-consecutive games, during which she is hitting .418 (28-for-67) with 25 RBI and 29 runs scored.
The 'Cats are outscoring opponents by a 64-16 margin during its six-game winning streak. In those six games, Northwestern is hitting .403 (64-for-159) as a team with 26 extra-base hits (.698 slugging percentage) to go along with a .497 on-base percentage. On the other side, the Wildcat pitching staff is limiting opponents in that span to just a .189 (24-for-127) combined average and nine extra-base hits.
With an 11-7 mark in Big Ten play, Northwestern now sits sixth in the conference standings, one game behind Indiana (12-6). With seven regular season games remaining, the 'Cats rank Top-50 in the nation in RPI (48th), 31st in the nation in strength of schedule and 13th in non-conference strength of schedule.
Next up, the Wildcats will travel to DeKalb, Illinois for a midweek matchup with NIU on Tuesday at 6 pm CT. The Huskies have won nine of their last 10 games and currently sit two games back from first place in the MAC standings with a 14-5 mark. Following their trip to DeKalb, Northwestern hits the road for a three-game weekend set against Purdue in West Lafayette, beginning on Friday, April 24.
The 'Cats opened the weekend with a 10-0 run-rule victory over the Spartans on Friday evening. Northwestern followed that up with an 8-7 victory on Saturday afternoon before closing the weekend with an 8-0 win in five innings on Sunday evening. It marked the 12th run-rule victory of the season for the Wildcats, as well as their fourth run-rule win in their last five games. Northwestern has now won 29-straight games over Michigan State, dating back to 2011.
Another Weekend SWEEP! ??#GoCats | #BeRemarkable pic.twitter.com/FljCS9PYqB
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) April 20, 2026
Marina Mason led the Wildcats in the circle, going 3-0 over the weekend with 13 strikeouts and a pair of complete game shutouts in each of her two starts. On Friday, Mason carried a no-hitter into the fourth inning en route to a one-hit shutout, striking out six in 5.0 innings of work. In Saturday's outing, she entered in relief and allowed two hits in 1.2 innings of work, ultimately stranding the tying run on third base in the seventh inning with a game-sealing strikeout. Making her second start of the weekend on Sunday, the rookie right-hander tossed six strikeouts in 5.0 innings and retired 15 of the 18 batters she faced en route to a two-hit shutout.
Marina Mason's two weekend starts ????
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) April 20, 2026
?? 1-hit CG shutout on Friday
?? 2-hit CG shutout on Sunday pic.twitter.com/u1AVAiWC4g
Mason did not allow a run in 11.2 innings pitched throughout the weekend, lowering her ERA this season to 2.28 (37 ER/113.2 IP), which leads all rookies in the conference and ranks third behind only Jordy Frahm (Nebraska) and Lyndsey Grein (Oregon). The Brentwood, Tennessee native limited Spartan batters to a .125 opposing average throughout the weekend and now holds a .181 opponent average on the season, which leads all Big Ten pitchers. Mason's five complete game shutouts on the year rank second among all conference arms (trailing only Frahm) and are tied for the most by a Wildcat pitcher since Ashley Miller during her Big Ten Pitcher of the Year campaign in 2024.
The reigning Big Ten Player of the Week Emma Raye made a strong case to become the conference's first back-to-back weekly award winner this season, driving in nine RBI while going 5-for-8 with four extra-base hits (two home runs, a triple, a double–good for a 1.750 slugging percentage) and five runs scored. Raye reached base in 7-of-10 plate appearances and extended her hitting streak to a career-long eight games.
Raye opened the scoring for Northwestern in all three of the Wildcats' wins this weekend, recording an extra-base RBI-hit in the first inning of every game. On Friday, she blasted a one-out double down the left field line and, in the following inning, drove in two more with a triple to center field. On Saturday, Raye hit a three-run homer to center field in the bottom of the first, then once again came through with another RBI-hit in the second inning with a two-out RBI-single. In Sunday's win, Raye homered for the second game in a row, blasting a two-run shot to left field in the first inning in what marked the third time this season that Raye has homered in consecutive games.
Raye raised her batting average this season to a team-leading .412 clip (49-for-119) to go along with an .832 slugging percentage, a .514 on-base percentage, 12 homers and 50 RBI on the year–all of which also lead the team. She is the first Wildcat to reach 50+ RBI in a season since Rachel Lewis (62), Jordyn Rudd (52) and Nikki Cuchran (50) did so in 2022. Raye is three RBI away from passing Rudd for the most RBI by a Northwestern catcher in a single season.
WHAT A SEQUENCE. DOUBLE PLAY.
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) April 18, 2026
TWO runners caught stealing! ???? pic.twitter.com/ScxLSja6Ch
Bridget Donahey also reached base in 7-of-10 plate appearances over the weekend, going 4-for-7 with a homer, a double, three walks, three RBI and three runs scored. Donahey reached base three times in both Saturday and Sunday's wins, going 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored on Saturday followed by a 2-for-2 showing on Sunday with a walk, an RBI-double in the second inning and a two-run homer in the fifth inning. The senior shortstop now ranks second on the team with a 1.080 OPS on the year and has already set career highs with 34 hits, nine homers and 28 RBI on the season.
Tru Medina finished the weekend hitting .429 (3-for-7) with a .581 slugging percentage as she recorded a hit in every game over the weekend, capped off on Sunday by a two-out walk-off double in the fifth inning to score Avery Garden from first base and secure an 8-0 run-rule victory.
At the top of the Wildcats' order, Grace Nieto reached base in 6-of-11 plate appearances (.545), drawing a team-high four walks. The fifth-year senior has already more than doubled her single-season career high with 37 walks on the season (tied for 9th in program history), which ranks second in the Big Ten behind only Megan Grant (54). Nieto's 20 walks in conference play lead all Big Ten hitters. Hitting behind Nieto in the lineup, Kaylie Avvisato extended her reached base streak to a career-high 20-consecutive games, during which she is hitting .418 (28-for-67) with 25 RBI and 29 runs scored.
Fire us up, Kaylie Avvisato! ???????
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) April 19, 2026
Web gem in center field for the first out of the game!#SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/fOrFbyU5nZ
The 'Cats are outscoring opponents by a 64-16 margin during its six-game winning streak. In those six games, Northwestern is hitting .403 (64-for-159) as a team with 26 extra-base hits (.698 slugging percentage) to go along with a .497 on-base percentage. On the other side, the Wildcat pitching staff is limiting opponents in that span to just a .189 (24-for-127) combined average and nine extra-base hits.
With an 11-7 mark in Big Ten play, Northwestern now sits sixth in the conference standings, one game behind Indiana (12-6). With seven regular season games remaining, the 'Cats rank Top-50 in the nation in RPI (48th), 31st in the nation in strength of schedule and 13th in non-conference strength of schedule.
Next up, the Wildcats will travel to DeKalb, Illinois for a midweek matchup with NIU on Tuesday at 6 pm CT. The Huskies have won nine of their last 10 games and currently sit two games back from first place in the MAC standings with a 14-5 mark. Following their trip to DeKalb, Northwestern hits the road for a three-game weekend set against Purdue in West Lafayette, beginning on Friday, April 24.
Walk it off, Tru Medina! ????
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) April 20, 2026
RBI-double locks up the 8-0 run-rule ??! pic.twitter.com/G9nheWL7w3
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Mason, Marina (13-8)
L: Schuler,Jacey (5-13)
Batting:
2B: Hawley,Hannah 1
Batting:
2B: Nieto, Grace 1 ; Robinson, Kansas 1 ; Donahey, Bridget 1 ; Cunnea, Isabel 1 ; Medina, Tru 1
HR: Raye, Emma 1 ; Donahey, Bridget 1
RBI: Raye, Emma 2 ; Donahey, Bridget 3 ; Cunnea, Isabel 1 ; Medina, Tru 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Avvisato, Kaylie 1 ; Raye, Emma 1 ; Renschen, Kate 1 ; Robinson, Kansas 1 ; Donahey, Bridget 2 ; Nader, Kelsey 1 ; Garden, Avery 1
CS: Nieto, Grace 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
2
R
2
H
2
RBI
3
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
Softball - 'Cats Earn Series Sweep, Earn 8-0 Run-Rule Win Over Michigan State (4/19/20)
Monday, April 20
Softball - Wildcats Secure Series Victory with 8-7 Win vs. Michigan State (4/18/26)
Saturday, April 18
Softball - Marina Mason Tosses One-Hit Shutout, 'Cats Run-Rule Michigan State, 10-0 (4/17/26)
Saturday, April 18
Softball - Wildcats Earn Series Sweep at Penn State with 17-3 Run-Rule (4/12/26)
Sunday, April 12
