2025 Softball Roster

ayana lindsey at purdue big ten tournament
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
ayana lindsey
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
ayana lindsey home run vs southern miss 2025
February 24, 2024, Cathedral City, CA: A game between Northwestern Softball and Loyola Marymount University during the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic at Fenway Field at Big League Dreams Complex in Cathedral City, CA on Saturday, February 24, 2024. (Photo by Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics)
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
February 25, 2024, Cathedral City, CA: A game between Northwestern Softball and Oregon State during the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic at Fenway Field at Big League Dreams Complex in Cathedral City, CA on Sunday, February 25, 2024. (Photo by Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics)
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
March 31, 2024, Columbus, OH: A game between Northwestern Softball and Ohio State at Buckeye Field in Columbus, OH on Sunday, March 31, 2024. (Photo by David Dermer/Northwestern Athletics)
Photo by: David Dermer/Northwestern Athletics
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 42

Ayana Lindsey

  • Height:
    5-4
  • Class:
    Senior
  • High School:
    Iowa City High School
  • Hometown:
    Iowa City, Iowa
Pronunciation: Eye-ahn-uh

2025: Appeared in 44 games and made 36 starts as a senior … Finished with four doubles, two home runs, and 11 RBI … Racked up a hit, a stolen base, and a sacrifice bunt in a win over No. 8 Duke (2/8) … Hit the eventual game-winning home run in the top of the seventh inning in a 2-1 win over Southern Miss (2/9) … Hit a double, stole a base, and scored three runs in a win over UT Arlington (2/15) … Picked up two hits, drove in a run, and stole a base in a win over Illinois (4/6) … Hit a two-run homer in a win over Loyola Chicago (4/16) … Drove in two runs with a double in a win over Rutgers (4/20) … Batted .500 (4-for-8) with a run batted in and three runs scored in a series win over Wisconsin (4/25-27) … Cleared the bases with a triple and came around to score twice in a run-rule victory at No. 8 UCLA (5/2).

2024: Started 48 games as a junior … Finished with a .230 average and 16 RBI … Legged out a team-high three triples … Started the season with an RBI double against Boise State (2/9) … Racked up a hit, two RBI, and two runs scored in a win over Georgia Tech (2/17) … Posted two hits and reached on a walk against North Texas (3/2) … Batted .417 with 5 RBI in five straight wins over South Carolina, Depaul, UIC, and Michigan State (3/17-24) … Had five hits, including a double and a triple in a series win over Ohio State (3/29-31) … Doubled in the winning run to beat Maryland (4/12) … Collected hits in four straight games, scoring two runs and knocking in two more over the span (4/16-21) … Knocked in the tying run and scored the winning run against Indiana (5/3) … Logged two hits in the Texas Regional opening win over St. Francis (5/17).

2023: Made 18 starts and 47 appearances as a sophomore ... Hit .241 with a .727 OPS in 54 at bats ... Walked and stole a base against Notre Dame (2/18) ... Tripled, singled, drove in a run, and scored against Louisville (3/4) ... Scored two runs against Louisville (3/5) ... Went 3-for-3 with a triple, two stolen bases, and three runs scored against Minnesota (3/24) ... Doubled and singled against Minnesota (3/26) ... Drove in two runs and scored twice against DePaul (3/28) ... Blasted her first home run of the season against Penn State (4/7) ... Drove in two runs against Penn State (4/8) ... Tallied two walks and two runs scored to help beat Rutgers (5/5).

2022: Appeared in 49 games as a first-year, making nine starts ... Hit .333 (9-for-26) with two home runs ... Went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, two runs scored, and a RBI in her collegiate debut against Akron (2/12) ... Reached base and tallied a steal against Liberty (2/13) ... Scored a run against Texas Tech (2/18) and Clemson (2/19) ... Stole a base against Cal State Fullerton (2/26) ... Stole a base and scored a run against Ball State (3/6) ... Recorded her first-career walk against Ohio State (4/10) ... Pinch ran, stole a base and scored in back-to-back two games of a three game sweep against Indiana (4/22-24) ... Crushed a grand slam as part of a career-high six RBI day in a win over UIC (4/26) ... Launched a two-run home run in a regional win against McNeese (5/21) ... Scored a run in both game two and game three of the Tempe Super Regional against Arizona State (5/28-29).

Career Highs:
At-Bats.......................................... 5, vs. Iowa (4/1/23)
Hits....................... 3 (3x), last vs. Ohio State (3/29/24)
Runs.................. 3 (3x), last vs. UT Arlington (2/15/25)
RBI................................................ 6, vs. UIC (4/26/22)
Doubles...........................1 (7x), last vs. UCLA (5/3/25)
Home Runs....1 (5x), last vs. Loyola Chicago (4/16/25)
Total Bases.............5 (2x), last vs. Minnesota (3/24/23)
Walks...........................2 (4x), last vs. Purdue (4/19/24)
Stolen Bases……..…………..... 3, at Rutgers (4/18/25)

High School: Has started for four years at Iowa City City High School, playing shortstop and pitcher ... A four-time All Mississippi Valley Conference (MVC) Honoree and three-time All-District Selection … Named first team All-State following her sophomore and junior seasons after earning a second team nod as a first-year … Named MVC Athlete of the Year in both her sophomore and junior seasons after hitting .463 with 73 runs scored and 34 stolen bases as a sophomore, followed by a .500 batting average with 39 runs, 18 stolen bases and a 2.25 ERA in the circle as a junior … Also played one year of varsity basketball and received varsity letters in track for two years … Played club softball for the South East Iowa All-Stars and the Eastern Iowa Barracudas … Daughter of Erin Whiting and Donzell Lindsey.
 
Drohan on Lindsey: "Ayana is a legit five-tool, complete player who delivers on both sides of the ball with her speed, power and explosiveness. She is mature beyond her years and will have a tremendous impact on our Northwestern community. We are thrilled she chose NU."
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