2025 Softball Roster

kaylie avvisato walk-off home run kate drohan
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
kaylie avvisato vs. minnesota 2025
Photo by: Jazmin Bender/Northwestern Athletics
kaylie avvisato high five vs mississippi state
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
Photo by: Cami Henry/Northwestern Athletics
kaylie avvisato vs. duke gothic uniform
January 9, 2025, Evanston, IL: Members of the Northwestern Softball team pose for photos as part of Internal Media Days at Walter Athletics Center in Evanston, IL on Thursday, January 9, 2025. (Photo by Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics)
Jersey Number 8

Kaylie Avvisato

  • Height:
    5-9
  • Class:
    First-Year
  • High School:
    Riverside High School
  • Hometown:
    Leesburg, Virginia
Pronunciation: ah-vi-sah-toh

2025: All-Big Ten Freshman Team … Finished with 57 hits, the most by a Northwestern rookie since Jordyn Rudd (57) in 2019 … Racked up a team-high 22 stolen bases to lead all Big Ten first-years … Ranked second on the team with a .348 batting average, the highest mark by a Wildcat first-year since Sabrina Rabin (.394) in 2015 … Led the Northwestern offense with nine hits, a .563 batting average (9-for-16), an .813 slugging percentage and a .568 on-base percentage over the weekend at the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Fla. (2/7-9) … Avvisato’s nine hits on opening weekend were the most by a Big Ten first year, and were tied for the second-most by any first year in the country … Posted a team-leading .455 average through her first ten career games, the second-best average among Big Ten first-years during that span … Notched a hit in eight of her first ten games, including four multi-hit performances … Drove in three RBI on three hits and stole two bases over the weekend at the Mary Nutter Classic (2/21-23) … Hit .400 (4-for-10) with a double and five RBI in a two-game sweep of Michigan State (3/15-3/16) … Posted a .444 average (4-for-9) with two doubles in a three-game set against No. 19 Mississippi State (3/21-3/22) ... Batted .545 (6-for-11) with three doubles and a home run in a series win over Wisconsin (4/25-27) … Blasted a walk-off two run home run in the final game to lift Northwestern to a senior day win and series victory (4/27) … Turned in a two-hit performance in her NCAA tournament debut, going 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBI in a win over Kentucky (5/16).

Career Highs:
At-Bats...................... 5 (5x), last vs. Notre Dame (4/1/25)
Hits............................. 3 (7x), last vs. Wisconsin (4/27/25)
Runs......................................... 3, at  Minnesota (3/29/25)
RBI...................... 4 (2x), last vs. Michigan State (3/16/25)
Doubles............ 1 (6x), last vs. Mississippi State (3/22/25)
Home Runs................. 1 (5x), last vs. Wisconsin (4/27/25)
Total Bases............................... 7, vs. Wisconsin (4/27/25)
Walks............................... 1 (11x), last vs. Purdue (5/7/25)
Stolen Bases...................... 3, vs Michigan State (3/15/25)


High School: Ranked No. 9 overall player and No. 6 middle infielder by Extra Innings Softball and the No. 6 overall player, and No. 2 middle infielder by Legacy and Legends Softball in the 2024 class … Two-time Extra Innings First Team High School All-American Infielder … Four-time First Team All-Region, First Team All-Potomac District, and First Team All-Loudoun selection … Two-time Virginia 5D Regional Player of the Year, Potomac District Player of the Year, and Washington Post First Team All-Metro Team honoree … 2024 Virginia Class 5 All-State Player of the Year and MaxPreps State of Virginia Home Run Leader (16) … NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete … Holds Riverside High School records for career hits (148), runs (143), doubles (51), stolen bases (32), and pitching strikeouts (316) … Also holds Riverside single-season records in hits (52), runs (57), doubles (16), stolen bases (21), pitching strikeouts (124) and ERA (1.27) … In 91 career games, hit .471 with a .535 OBP and .955 slugging percentage (1.490 OPS)… In the circle, compiled a 30-11 record, 2.49 ERA, and 316 strikeouts in 236 innings … As a senior, led Riverside to the Class 5 State Championship, hitting .547 with 52 hits, 16 home runs, 15 doubles, 33 RBI, and 57 runs scored, with a 1.274 slugging percentage. As a junior, hit .495 with 46 runs, 20 doubles, 9 home runs, and 33 RBI, while pitching 46 innings with 75 strikeouts and a 2.30 ERA … Also was a four-time First Team All-Region basketball player and three-time Riverside Varsity Basketball MVP … Played club softball for VA Glory for coaches Suzy Willemsen and Kevin Bednoski … Honor roll student and recipient of the St. Michael’s College Book Award for Academic Achievement and Social Conscience … Mother, Karen, played softball at Miami (Ohio), father, Frank, played baseball at George Washington … Aunt, Kristy Burch, is in Miami (Ohio)’s Hall of Fame for softball … Anticipated major at Northwestern is learning and organizational change.

Drohan on Avvisato: "Kaylie is a remarkable competitor, student and person. She is already playing an elite shortstop and has great power and speed from the batter's box. We are honored Kaylie and her family chose Northwestern and we can't wait to get to work."
Softball - Lauren Boyd Tosses Complete Game Shutout, 'Cats Blank Kentucky in NCAA Regional (5/16/25)
Friday, May 16
Softball - 'Cats Storm Back, Secure Series Victory at No. 8 UCLA (5/4/25)
Sunday, May 04
Softball - 'Cats Earn 8-0 Run-Rule Win at No. 8 UCLA (5/2/25)
Saturday, May 03
Softball - Kaylie Avvisato Hits Walk-Off Home Run, 'Cats Take Series vs. Wisconsin (4/27/25)
Sunday, April 27