Wildcats Go 4-1 in Opening Weekend at Kajikawa Classic

PHOENIX, Ariz. – No. 25 Northwestern turned in a strong showing in its first weekend of action at the Kajikawa Classic, winning four straight games to finish the weekend with a 4-1 record.

After a 4-3 setback to the defending Mountain West champion Boise State Broncos in their season opener, the Wildcats bounced back with a 2-0 win at Arizona State on Friday. The 'Cats kept the momentum rolling on Saturday with a 3-2 comeback victory over Weber State, followed by an 11-1 run-rule win over St. Thomas, before closing out the weekend with an 8-0 run-rule victory over Weber State.

Standout Performances from the Returners

Multiple returning starters picked up right where they left off from a successful 2023 season, with all turning in blistering performances in the first weekend of action hitting in the heart of the Wildcat lineup.

Angela Zedak led the team with 10 hits and a .625 batting average (10-for-16), with five of her 10 hits going for extra bases (two homers, three doubles). Zedak hit a solo home run in the Wildcats' 2-0 win over Arizona State on Friday and proceeded to come through clutch once again the following day, hitting a go-ahead two-run homer in the fifth inning in a 3-2 win over Weber State. The fifth-year turned it on in the Wildcats' final two games of the weekend, posting a career high four hits in back-to-back games, going 8-for-8 with three runs scored, three doubles and two RBI to pace the 'Cats to a pair of run-rule victories.

?? ZE-JACKED ??

First of the year for @angg_zedakk_9! pic.twitter.com/Ibg636IKFw
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) February 10, 2024

Hitting second in the order, Kansas Robinson led the Wildcats in on-base percentage (.737), slugging percentage (1.231), OPS (1.968) and runs scored (7) after opening weekend. Robinson recorded a hit in each of Northwestern's five games this weekend, including going for a career-high three hits in Saturday's win over St. Thomas while adding three RBI and three runs scored. Robinson also drew a team-leading six walks on the weekend, and homered in back-to-back games on Saturday en route to wins over Weber State and St. Thomas.

A back-to-back All-Big Ten recipient, Hannah Cady wasted no time getting going in 2024, hitting .538 (7-for-13) with a team-high seven RBI and a 1.171 OPS. Cady recorded RBI in four of five games for the 'Cats throughout the weekend, while matching a single-game career high with three hits in Saturday's 11-0 win over St. Thomas in five innings.

New year, same @hannah_cady ???? pic.twitter.com/SYhFkl3WOf
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) February 9, 2024

To round out the top four punch of returning starters in the Wildcats' lineup, Kelsey Nader hit .353 (6-for-17) in the leadoff spot for the 'Cats, scoring five runs. Nader recorded a hit in four of NU's five games over the weekend and also anchored the Wildcat defense with 30 putouts and a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage while seeing her first action at first base.

Newcomers Emerge on the Scene

The Wildcats' 2024 roster features eight first-year additions as well as one graduate transfer. Six of those nine newcomers started at least one game for the 'Cats over the weekend with an abundance making an immediate impact for Kate Drohan's squad.

Ashley Miller made her first start of the season in Northwestern's evening matchup at Arizona State on Friday and turned in a masterclass debut, tossing a complete game four-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts in a 2-0 win over the Sun Devils. It marked Miller's 33rd career complete game and ninth career shutout -- as well as the 14th game of her career striking out 10+ batters. After the Wildcats' grabbed a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning of Saturday's game vs. Weber State, Miller entered to record a 2.0 inning save, striking out five of the seven batters she faced (all in a row) to secure her fifth career save.

Impressing from both sides of the plate over the weekend was Riley Grudzielanek. The rookie from Oak Creek, Wisconsin started each of the last three games for Northwestern and recorded a hit in each game, finishing the weekend hitting .429 (3-for-7) with three RBI and a 1.444 OPS. Grudzielanek recorded her first collegiate hit in her first career at bat, doubling to center field in Saturday's game vs. Weber State. Later that day, Grudzielanek made her pitching debut for Northwestern and tossed a complete game in the 'Cats' 11-0 run-rule win over St. Thomas, allowing just four hits in 5.0 innings while striking out four. Grudzielanek belted the first home run of her career vs. Weber State on Sunday, a two-run homer to cap off a five-run rally in the third inning.

Renae Cunningham was one of four Wildcat pitchers to make a start over the weekend. After allowing just one hit in 2.1 innings of action against Boise State on Friday, Cunningham made her first career start against Weber State on Sunday and dazzled in the weekend finale. Cunningham allowed just two hits in 5.0 scoreless innings while striking out eight and retiring the final eight batters she faced to earn the first complete game shutout of her career.

First career start for Renae Cunningham:

Complete game shutout.
2 hits allowed.
8 strikeouts.#GoCats | #BeRemarkable pic.twitter.com/FJlS3pryck
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) February 11, 2024

Emma Raye caught every inning for the Wildcats at catcher and recorded a hit in four of the five games this weekend. Raye recorded a two-run home run in Saturday's win over St. Thomas, joining Zedak/Robinson/Grudzielanek as one of four different Wildcats to homer over the weekend.

The first career home run for @emmaraye17 ?? pic.twitter.com/85PXG4bCmA
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) February 10, 2024

Looking Ahead:

Northwestern heads to Clearwater, Florida next weekend for the 2024 Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational hosted by ESPN Events. This marks the third time Northwestern has secured an invite to represent the Big Ten in the five-year history of the tournament, having also participated in 2020 and 2022. The Wildcats' weekend slate includes:

Friday, 11 am CT on SEC Network: No. 15 LSU (5-0)
Saturday, 8 am CT on ACC Network: Georgia Tech (3-3)
Saturday, 3 pm CT on ESPN+: No. 11 Oklahoma State (5-0)
Sunday, 8:30 am CT on ESPN2: No. 5 Texas (5-0)
Sunday, 11:30 am CT on ESPN+: UCF (4-1)