Friday, February 7
Clearwater, Fla.
12 pm CT
Northwestern
1-0
5
vs
4
Kennesaw State
0-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
R
H
E
Northwestern
0
1
2
0
1
0
1
0
5
11
0
Kennesaw State
2
0
0
0
0
2
0
X
4
8
2
Wildcats Split Opening Day Doubleheader
2/8/2025 1:09:00 AM | Softball
CLEARWATER, Fla. – Northwestern split its opening day doubleheader at the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic on Friday, taking down Kennesaw State, 5-4, in the opener before dropping a 3-0 affair to No. 15 Missouri in the later game.
Entering the seventh inning of game one tied at 4-4, the Wildcats scored in the top of the frame as first-year Kaylie Avvisato logged the first hit of her career and proceeded to advance on a throwing error that scored pinch runner Hannah Cushing from second base. The Wildcats put the game on ice in the bottom of the frame thanks to a back-to-back two-play sequence that resulted in catcher Emma Raye picking off a runner on first base, followed by Riley Grudzielanek logging a strikeout for the final out of the game to secure a save.
Raye led the Wildcats' offense against Kennesaw State, going 2-for-3 with a walk, a double and three RBI. After the Wildcats fell behind 2-0 in the first frame, Raye put the Wildcats on the board in the second inning with an RBI-single in her first at-bat of the season. The following inning, Raye came through with the bases loaded with a two-out double down the left field line to put the Wildcats out in front. It marked the sixth multi-hit game of Raye's career, while her three RBI were the most by a Wildcat in a season opener since Jordyn Rudd (4) at the 2023 NFCA Leadoff Classic.
Lauren Boyd and Grace Nieto both made their returns to the Northwestern lineup after missing the 2024 season due to injuries. It had been 623 days since Boyd last pitched for the Wildcats and 622 days since Nieto appeared in the lineup. Boyd allowed four runs in 5.2 innings pitched, at one point retiring 11 batters in a row.
Nieto went 3-for-3 against Kennesaw State, tying her career high in hits in what marked the fifth multi-hit game of her career and her first since March 4, 2023.
Grudzielanek earned the start in the second game of the afternoon against No. 15 Missouri and tossed 6.0 innings for the 'Cats, allowing six hits and three runs (two earned). The sophomore hurler allowed just one run over the final 4.0 innings of action.
Avvisato shined in game two against Missouri, recording all of the Wildcats' hits on the game in a 3-for-3 effort at the plate. She is the first Wildcat rookie to record a three-hit game since Ainsley Muno did so last season in consecutive games at Ohio State on March 29 and 30.
Northwestern returns to action on Saturday in a Saturday doubleheader against a pair of Top-10 opponents. The Wildcats will face No. 8 Duke at 3 pm CT in a game that will streamed live on the GameChanger app, followed by a matchup with No. 5 Tennessee at 6 pm CT which will be broadcast live on MLB Network.
Entering the seventh inning of game one tied at 4-4, the Wildcats scored in the top of the frame as first-year Kaylie Avvisato logged the first hit of her career and proceeded to advance on a throwing error that scored pinch runner Hannah Cushing from second base. The Wildcats put the game on ice in the bottom of the frame thanks to a back-to-back two-play sequence that resulted in catcher Emma Raye picking off a runner on first base, followed by Riley Grudzielanek logging a strikeout for the final out of the game to secure a save.
New Year. Same Deal.
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) February 7, 2025
Don't Run on Emma Raye ????? pic.twitter.com/GZetiedIkO
Raye led the Wildcats' offense against Kennesaw State, going 2-for-3 with a walk, a double and three RBI. After the Wildcats fell behind 2-0 in the first frame, Raye put the Wildcats on the board in the second inning with an RBI-single in her first at-bat of the season. The following inning, Raye came through with the bases loaded with a two-out double down the left field line to put the Wildcats out in front. It marked the sixth multi-hit game of Raye's career, while her three RBI were the most by a Wildcat in a season opener since Jordyn Rudd (4) at the 2023 NFCA Leadoff Classic.
Lauren Boyd and Grace Nieto both made their returns to the Northwestern lineup after missing the 2024 season due to injuries. It had been 623 days since Boyd last pitched for the Wildcats and 622 days since Nieto appeared in the lineup. Boyd allowed four runs in 5.2 innings pitched, at one point retiring 11 batters in a row.
Nieto went 3-for-3 against Kennesaw State, tying her career high in hits in what marked the fifth multi-hit game of her career and her first since March 4, 2023.
Grudzielanek earned the start in the second game of the afternoon against No. 15 Missouri and tossed 6.0 innings for the 'Cats, allowing six hits and three runs (two earned). The sophomore hurler allowed just one run over the final 4.0 innings of action.
Avvisato shined in game two against Missouri, recording all of the Wildcats' hits on the game in a 3-for-3 effort at the plate. She is the first Wildcat rookie to record a three-hit game since Ainsley Muno did so last season in consecutive games at Ohio State on March 29 and 30.
Northwestern returns to action on Saturday in a Saturday doubleheader against a pair of Top-10 opponents. The Wildcats will face No. 8 Duke at 3 pm CT in a game that will streamed live on the GameChanger app, followed by a matchup with No. 5 Tennessee at 6 pm CT which will be broadcast live on MLB Network.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Cunningham, Renae (1-0)
L: TYSON, O. (0-1)
S: Grudzielanek, Riley (1)
Batting:
2B: Donahey, Bridget 1 ; Raye, Emma 1
RBI: Raye, Emma 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Nader, Kelsey 1 ; Minarovic, Grace 1 ; Cushing, Hannah 1 ; Donahey, Bridget 2
CS: Nader, Kelsey 2
HBP: Grudzielanek, Riley 1 ; Boyd, Lauren 1
Batting:
2B: HARVEY, H. 1 ; GUZOWSKI, A. 1
RBI: GUZOWSKI, A. 1 ; GORE, A. 2 ; HARDEMAN, T. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: HARVEY, H. 1 ; GUZOWSKI, A. 2 ; RUSSO, A. 1
SB: RUSSO, A. 1 ; STRICKLAND 1
PO: BEVILY, A. 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
3
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
P/IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P/IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
C
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