Thursday, March 13
Oklahoma City, Okla.
6:30 pm CT
Northwestern
10-9, 0
13
vs
7
Penn State
12-12, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Penn State
0
0
1
0
4
2
0
7
10
1
Northwestern
0
1
3
4
3
2
X
13
12
1
Wildcats Score 13, Take Big Ten Opener vs. Penn State
3/13/2025 11:02:00 PM | Softball
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Every hitter in Northwestern's lineup contributed a hit as the Wildcats exploded for 13 runs to open Big Ten play with a 13-7 win over Penn State on Thursday evening in Oklahoma City at Devon Park, the site of the Women's College World Series.
The Wildcat offense scored runs in each of its last five innings at the plate, including a three-run rally in the third, a four-run rally in the fourth and another three-run outburst in the fifth.
The 13 runs from the 'Cats mark their most in a game to date this season, and their most in a Big Ten opener since 2018 (a 13-0 victory, also against Penn State). NU also drew a season-high 10 walks, its most in a game since drawing 12 vs. North Texas on March 3, 2024.
Emma Raye led the Wildcats at the plate, turning in the first three-hit performance of her career going 3-for-4 with a double, a homer, two runs scored and a career-high five RBI. The sophomore catcher finished a triple shy of the cycle, providing an RBI-single in the fourth inning, an RBI-double in the fifth inning and finally a two-run homer–her first long ball of the season–in the sixth inning.
Bridget Donahey added a home run of her own to lead off the bottom of the third inning, her team-high fourth homer of the season, to give Northwestern a 2-1 lead and jumpstart the first of four-straight multi-run rallies. Donahey reached base three times on the game, going 1-for-2 with a homer, two walks while leading the team with three runs scored. The junior from Phoenix, Arizona leads the team this season in walks (15), runs scored (17), on-base percentage (.500) and slugging percentage (.634).
Isabel Cunnea turned in a multi-hit effort, going 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored. The sophomore extended her hitting streak to seven-straight games, the longest streak of her career and the longest by a Wildcat this season. Cunnea also boasts a nine-game reached base streak, the second longest active streak on the team behind only Kaylie Avvisato, who went 1-for-5 on the evening to extend her reached base streak to 13 straight games.
Kelsey Nader reached base three times and recorded her team-leading fourth multi-RBI game this season, going 1-for-3 with two walks and two RBI. Hitting one spot ahead of Nader, Grace Nieto also reached base three times, going 1-for-3 with a two walks and an RBI. In the cleanup spot, Kansas Robinson also reached base three times, going 1-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored.
Lauren Boyd earned the win, pitching 4.1 innings while striking out five. Boyd is now 4-0 in her last four starts, pitching at least 4.0 innings in every start while striking out 5+ hitters in three of those four outings. The graduate student allowed just one run in her first four innings of action before surrendering four runs in the top of the fifth inning after the 'Cats had built up a seven-run lead. Renae Cunningham entered in relief and allowed two hits and two runs in 1.1 innings. Signe Dohse closed out the game, striking out two in 1.1 scoreless innings.
The Wildcats will be back in action against the Nittany Lions on Friday, with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 pm CT from Devon Park, before two games against Michigan State on Saturday and Sunday to close out the weekend.
The Wildcat offense scored runs in each of its last five innings at the plate, including a three-run rally in the third, a four-run rally in the fourth and another three-run outburst in the fifth.
The 13 runs from the 'Cats mark their most in a game to date this season, and their most in a Big Ten opener since 2018 (a 13-0 victory, also against Penn State). NU also drew a season-high 10 walks, its most in a game since drawing 12 vs. North Texas on March 3, 2024.
Emma Raye led the Wildcats at the plate, turning in the first three-hit performance of her career going 3-for-4 with a double, a homer, two runs scored and a career-high five RBI. The sophomore catcher finished a triple shy of the cycle, providing an RBI-single in the fourth inning, an RBI-double in the fifth inning and finally a two-run homer–her first long ball of the season–in the sixth inning.
Bridget Donahey added a home run of her own to lead off the bottom of the third inning, her team-high fourth homer of the season, to give Northwestern a 2-1 lead and jumpstart the first of four-straight multi-run rallies. Donahey reached base three times on the game, going 1-for-2 with a homer, two walks while leading the team with three runs scored. The junior from Phoenix, Arizona leads the team this season in walks (15), runs scored (17), on-base percentage (.500) and slugging percentage (.634).
Isabel Cunnea turned in a multi-hit effort, going 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored. The sophomore extended her hitting streak to seven-straight games, the longest streak of her career and the longest by a Wildcat this season. Cunnea also boasts a nine-game reached base streak, the second longest active streak on the team behind only Kaylie Avvisato, who went 1-for-5 on the evening to extend her reached base streak to 13 straight games.
Kelsey Nader reached base three times and recorded her team-leading fourth multi-RBI game this season, going 1-for-3 with two walks and two RBI. Hitting one spot ahead of Nader, Grace Nieto also reached base three times, going 1-for-3 with a two walks and an RBI. In the cleanup spot, Kansas Robinson also reached base three times, going 1-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored.
Lauren Boyd earned the win, pitching 4.1 innings while striking out five. Boyd is now 4-0 in her last four starts, pitching at least 4.0 innings in every start while striking out 5+ hitters in three of those four outings. The graduate student allowed just one run in her first four innings of action before surrendering four runs in the top of the fifth inning after the 'Cats had built up a seven-run lead. Renae Cunningham entered in relief and allowed two hits and two runs in 1.1 innings. Signe Dohse closed out the game, striking out two in 1.1 scoreless innings.
The Wildcats will be back in action against the Nittany Lions on Friday, with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 pm CT from Devon Park, before two games against Michigan State on Saturday and Sunday to close out the weekend.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Boyd, Lauren (5-2)
L: A Britton (3-8)
Batting:
2B: B Klosowicz 1 ; M Gordon 1 ; M Chamberlin 1
HR: H Brunson 1
RBI: H Brunson 2 ; B Klosowicz 1 ; M Gordon 1 ; M Ricks 1 ; M Chamberlin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: N Lieto 3 ; H Brunson 2 ; M Gordon 1 ; M Ricks 1
Batting:
2B: Cunnea, Isabel 1 ; Raye, Emma 1
HR: Donahey, Bridget 1 ; Raye, Emma 1
RBI: Nieto, Grace 1 ; Nader, Kelsey 2 ; Donahey, Bridget 1 ; Raye, Emma 5 ; Grudzielanek, Riley 1 ; Garden, Avery 2
SF: Garden, Avery 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Robinson, Kansas 2 ; Donahey, Bridget 3 ; Cunnea, Isabel 2 ; Raye, Emma 2 ; Lindsey, Ayana 1 ; Grudzielanek, Riley 1 ; Garden, Avery 2
SB: Nader, Kelsey 2 ; Minarovic, Grace 1 ; Garden, Avery 1
HBP: Donahey, Bridget 1 ; Garden, Avery 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
P/IF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P/U
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
IF
/ 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
