Sunday, February 16
Clearwater, FL
11 a.m. CT
Northwestern
4-5
5
vs
6
Virginia Tech
7-3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
R
H
E
Virginia Tech
0
0
0
5
0
0
0
1
6
6
2
Northwestern
1
0
0
3
0
1
0
0
5
7
0
Wildcats Fall in Extra Innings Battle
2/16/2020 2:59:00 PM | Softball
CLEARWATER, Fla. – No. 21 Northwestern dropped a close 6-5 decision to Virginia Tech in eight innings to conclude the ESPN St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Tournament on Sunday afternoon.
The 'Cats started fast with a leadoff double by Rachel Lewis and a bunt single by Skyler Shellmyer. Lewis gave the 'Cats a 1-0 lead, scoring on a double steal attempt.
After falling behind 5-1, the 'Cats started a two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth with a four-pitch walk from Williams and scored three batters later on a Shellmyer walk. The 'Cats tacked on two more with the bases loaded on a single from Jordyn Rudd, scoring Lewis and Gracie Huff. Rudd has now driven in at least a run in seven of the team's nine games and leads the team with nine RBIs. She finished the weekend with five hits and three RBIs.
Trailing 5-4 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, Lewis started the rally with a one-out walk on a full count. After Shellmyer's second bunt single of the day, Rudd sent a deep fly ball into left field, barely caught by Virginia Tech's Kelsey Brown. Lewis, on a heads-up play, scored all the way from second base to tie the game at five.
Danielle Williams, following her complete game performance yesterday, was dominant in the circle to start the game. She allowed only two hits in the first three innings, including a stretch in which she retired six consecutive batters and struck out five batters. After Williams ran into trouble in the fourth inning, Kaley Winegarner came on in relief and picked up two quick strikeouts. Morgan Newport followed Winegarner, recording the final out of the inning.
Coming on in relief to start the fifth inning, Kenna Wilkey dominated the Virginia Tech batters, allowing only one hit and zero earned runs through her four innings, recording four strikeouts.
Lewis finished 2-4 on the day with a double, her team-leading fifth double, and scored three runs. She also drew a walk in the sixth inning, en route to the go ahead run. For the weekend, she recorded seven hits, extended her hitting streak to six games, while scoring five runs and driving in five runs.
The 'Cats had three other players who also reached base three times. Williams did her damage at the plate today, going 1-2 with a single and two walks. Newport drew three walks, while Shellmyer had two bunt singles and a walk
Northwestern is back in action on Friday, February 21 when they travel to Palm Desert, California for the Mary Nutter Classic. The Wildcats' first matchup of the four-game event is against Auburn beginning at 12 p.m. CT.
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
The 'Cats started fast with a leadoff double by Rachel Lewis and a bunt single by Skyler Shellmyer. Lewis gave the 'Cats a 1-0 lead, scoring on a double steal attempt.
After falling behind 5-1, the 'Cats started a two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth with a four-pitch walk from Williams and scored three batters later on a Shellmyer walk. The 'Cats tacked on two more with the bases loaded on a single from Jordyn Rudd, scoring Lewis and Gracie Huff. Rudd has now driven in at least a run in seven of the team's nine games and leads the team with nine RBIs. She finished the weekend with five hits and three RBIs.
Trailing 5-4 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, Lewis started the rally with a one-out walk on a full count. After Shellmyer's second bunt single of the day, Rudd sent a deep fly ball into left field, barely caught by Virginia Tech's Kelsey Brown. Lewis, on a heads-up play, scored all the way from second base to tie the game at five.
Danielle Williams, following her complete game performance yesterday, was dominant in the circle to start the game. She allowed only two hits in the first three innings, including a stretch in which she retired six consecutive batters and struck out five batters. After Williams ran into trouble in the fourth inning, Kaley Winegarner came on in relief and picked up two quick strikeouts. Morgan Newport followed Winegarner, recording the final out of the inning.
Coming on in relief to start the fifth inning, Kenna Wilkey dominated the Virginia Tech batters, allowing only one hit and zero earned runs through her four innings, recording four strikeouts.
Lewis finished 2-4 on the day with a double, her team-leading fifth double, and scored three runs. She also drew a walk in the sixth inning, en route to the go ahead run. For the weekend, she recorded seven hits, extended her hitting streak to six games, while scoring five runs and driving in five runs.
The 'Cats had three other players who also reached base three times. Williams did her damage at the plate today, going 1-2 with a single and two walks. Newport drew three walks, while Shellmyer had two bunt singles and a walk
Northwestern is back in action on Friday, February 21 when they travel to Palm Desert, California for the Mary Nutter Classic. The Wildcats' first matchup of the four-game event is against Auburn beginning at 12 p.m. CT.
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Keely Rochard (4-3)
L: Wilkey, Kenna (1-2)
Batting:
2B: Kelsey Bennett 1
RBI: Kelsey Brown 2 ; Darby Trull 1 ; Kelsey Bennett 1 ; Mackenzie Lawter 1 ; Meredith Slaw 1
SH: Al Velazquez 1
SF: Mackenzie Lawter 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rebecca Ludowig 1 ; Jayme Bailey 1 ; Kelsey Bennett 1 ; Kate Kobayashi 1 ; Olivia Lattin 1 ; Maddi Banks 1
SB: Kelsey Brown 1 ; Ansley Whitley 1
CS: Jayme Bailey 1
HBP: Jayme Bailey 1 ; Meredith Slaw 1
Batting:
2B: Lewis, Rachel 1
RBI: Shellmyer, Skyler 1 ; Rudd, Jordyn 2
SF: Rudd, Jordyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lewis, Rachel 3 ; Williams, Danielle 1 ; Huff, Parker 1
CS: Shellmyer, Skyler 1
PO: Rudd, Jordyn 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
3
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ SoftballIF/OF
/ Softball
P/U
/ SoftballC/U
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P/U
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballSoftball - 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
