Wednesday, March 26
Evanston, Ill.
4 pm CT
Northwestern
15-11
11
vs
2
Northern Illinois
7-18
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
Northern Illinois
2
0
0
0
0
2
3
2
Northwestern
5
6
0
0
X
11
10
3
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Wildcats Run-Rule Huskies in Midweek Clash
3/26/2025 6:54:00 PM | Softball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern tallied 11 runs in the first two innings and cruised to an 11-2 run-rule victory in five innings over Northern Illinois on Wednesday at Sharon J. Drysdale Field.
Six different 'Cats combined for 10 hits, led by Bridget Donahey who finished 3-for-3 with a homer, four RBI and two runs scored. It marked the first three-hit game of Donahey's career, while her four RBI match a career high. Donahey leads the team this season with five home runs, 20 runs scored and a .627 slugging percentage.
Emma Blea made the third start of her career and earned her first-career win, allowing just three hits and two runs in 3.0 innings while striking out a career-high six batters. Signe Dohse took over in relief for the final 2.0 innings and retired all six batters she faced to lock up the run-rule win.
Northern Illinois got on the board first with a pair of extra-base hits in the top of the first inning, however the Wildcats wasted no time punching back in the bottom of the frame as the first six hitters reached base, with the first five coming around to score.
Grace Nieto led off the frame with an infield single, and Kelsey Nader followed with a walk. Kaylie Avvisato reached on an error that brought around Nieto, and then promptly manufactured another run after a successful double steal attempt allowed her to take second and Nader to steal home and tie the score at 2-2. Avvisato now has a team-high 12 stolen bases on the year, while Nader ranks second with eight.
Kansas Robinson put the Wildcats in front with an RBI-single to right field to drive in Avvisato, and Donahey proceeded to break the game open with a two-run home run to left field off Welsh-Ryan Arena.
The Wildcats followed their five-run first inning with six runs in the bottom of the second. With the bases loaded, Robinson drew a one-out walk for her second RBI of the afternoon. The very next batter, Donahey came through with a two-RBI single to center field to drive in Nader and Avvisato. After the Huskies made a pitching change, Isabel Cunnea wasted no time keeping the rally going, driving the first pitch she saw off the center field wall to for a two-RBI double. Emma Raye put the finishing touches on the scoring with a one-out single to bring home Cunnea.
Up next, Northwestern will resume conference action with a three-game series in Minnesota beginning on Friday at 5pm CT. All three games against the Gophers will be streamed on B1G+. The Wildcats swept their opening weekend of conference play in Oklahoma City, winning a pair of two-game sets against both Penn State and Michigan State. Northwestern and Michigan are the only two remaining unbeaten teams in the Big Ten, sitting atop the conference standings at 4-0.
Six different 'Cats combined for 10 hits, led by Bridget Donahey who finished 3-for-3 with a homer, four RBI and two runs scored. It marked the first three-hit game of Donahey's career, while her four RBI match a career high. Donahey leads the team this season with five home runs, 20 runs scored and a .627 slugging percentage.
Emma Blea made the third start of her career and earned her first-career win, allowing just three hits and two runs in 3.0 innings while striking out a career-high six batters. Signe Dohse took over in relief for the final 2.0 innings and retired all six batters she faced to lock up the run-rule win.
Northern Illinois got on the board first with a pair of extra-base hits in the top of the first inning, however the Wildcats wasted no time punching back in the bottom of the frame as the first six hitters reached base, with the first five coming around to score.
Grace Nieto led off the frame with an infield single, and Kelsey Nader followed with a walk. Kaylie Avvisato reached on an error that brought around Nieto, and then promptly manufactured another run after a successful double steal attempt allowed her to take second and Nader to steal home and tie the score at 2-2. Avvisato now has a team-high 12 stolen bases on the year, while Nader ranks second with eight.
Kansas Robinson put the Wildcats in front with an RBI-single to right field to drive in Avvisato, and Donahey proceeded to break the game open with a two-run home run to left field off Welsh-Ryan Arena.
The Wildcats followed their five-run first inning with six runs in the bottom of the second. With the bases loaded, Robinson drew a one-out walk for her second RBI of the afternoon. The very next batter, Donahey came through with a two-RBI single to center field to drive in Nader and Avvisato. After the Huskies made a pitching change, Isabel Cunnea wasted no time keeping the rally going, driving the first pitch she saw off the center field wall to for a two-RBI double. Emma Raye put the finishing touches on the scoring with a one-out single to bring home Cunnea.
Up next, Northwestern will resume conference action with a three-game series in Minnesota beginning on Friday at 5pm CT. All three games against the Gophers will be streamed on B1G+. The Wildcats swept their opening weekend of conference play in Oklahoma City, winning a pair of two-game sets against both Penn State and Michigan State. Northwestern and Michigan are the only two remaining unbeaten teams in the Big Ten, sitting atop the conference standings at 4-0.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Blea, Emma (1-0)
L: Hannah Bolly (2-2)
Batting:
2B: Madison Mathews 1
RBI: Madison Mathews 1 ; Danielle Stewart 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jenna Turner 1 ; Madison Mathews 1
Batting:
2B: Cunnea, Isabel 1
HR: Donahey, Bridget 1
RBI: Robinson, Kansas 2 ; Donahey, Bridget 4 ; Cunnea, Isabel 2 ; Raye, Emma 1
SH: Nieto, Grace 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nieto, Grace 2 ; Nader, Kelsey 2 ; Avvisato, Kaylie 2 ; Robinson, Kansas 2 ; Donahey, Bridget 2 ; Cunnea, Isabel 1
SB: Nieto, Grace 1 ; Nader, Kelsey 1 ; Avvisato, Kaylie 2
CS: Cunnea, Isabel 1 ; Minarovic, Grace 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
2
H
3
RBI
4
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
rf/dp
AB
2
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
2
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P/U
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
IF
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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
