Northwestern
24-4, 0
#23 Michigan
19-11, 0
Wildcats Take Series Over #23 Michigan
4/3/2022 6:01:00 PM | Softball
Following a dramatic extra-innings victory in the series opener on Friday, the Wildcats stormed back with yet another sixth inning rally in game one, powered by back-to-back homers once again courtesy of Rachel Lewis and Jordyn Rudd.
Game one of the doubleheader was a continuation of Saturday's game, which was postponed in the top of the third inning due to inclement weather. In the circle, Lauren Boyd tossed 6.0 innings while allowing just two earned runs and striking out four.
Trailing by a score of 4-2 heading into the sixth inning, Lewis gave the 'Cats the lead with a three-run home run, her second of the weekend, on the roof of Welsh-Ryan Arena. Moments later, Rudd went back-to-back with Lewis for the second-straight game, hitting a solo blast to extend the 'Cats' lead to 6-4. Rudd led the team with five hits over the weekend and finished with four RBI, while Lewis led the team with five RBI on 3-of-10 hitting along with two walks.
WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THIS @rlewis_11 MOON SHOT TO LAND ??????#GoCats | #BeRemarkable pic.twitter.com/vS109YM3h8
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) April 3, 2022
Jordyn Rudd: RBI Machine.
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) April 3, 2022
"Who said @rlewis_11 was the only one allowed to hit tanks?" - Rudd, probably.#GoCats | #BeRemarkable pic.twitter.com/4opEsRUELY
Danielle Williams struck out the side in the top of the seventh inning to secure her sixth save of the season, along with a series victory.
In the series finale, Michigan snapped the Wildcats' 14-game winning streak with an 8-3 victory. Five of the Wolverines' runs were scored with two outs in the top of the seventh inning.
Nikki Cuchran blasted a solo home run in the finale, while Maeve Nelson added a triple. Nelson finished the weekend with a team-high .444 batting average (4-of-9) and a .583 on-base percentage. Each of Nelson's four hits went for extra bases (two doubles, a triple and a home run).
The Wildcats return to action on Tuesday as they travel to South Bend for a marquee non-conference clash with Notre Dame. Following that, the 'Cats resume Big Ten play next weekend with a trip to Columbus to face Ohio State–who currently sits at 4-2 on the year in Big Ten play and knocked off No. 8 Kentucky earlier in the week.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Beaubien (5-4)
L: Williams, Danielle (14-2)
S: Derkowski (1)
Batting:
2B: Burkhardt 1 ; Sieler 1 ; Bump 2 ; Esman 1
RBI: Livingston 2 ; Bump 2 ; Esman 3 ; LeClair 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Burkhardt 1 ; Sieler 1 ; Carson 1 ; Livingston 3 ; Bump 1 ; Esman 1
SB: Burkhardt 1 ; Sieler 1
HBP: Carson 1 ; Bump 1
PO: Bump 1
Batting:
2B: Shellmyer, Skyler 1 ; Supple, Sydney 1
3B: Nelson, Maeve 1
HR: Cuchran, Nikki 1
RBI: Lewis, Rachel 1 ; Rudd, Jordyn 1 ; Cuchran, Nikki 1
SH: Nieto, Grace 1
SF: Lewis, Rachel 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Shellmyer, Skyler 1 ; Cuchran, Nikki 1 ; Lindsey, Ayana 1
SB: Shellmyer, Skyler 1
HBP: Nelson, Maeve 1 ; Zedak, Angela 1
