Northwestern
16-11, 5-0
Minnesota
13-18, 2-6
‘Cats Improve to 6-0 in Big Ten, Sweep Doubleheader at Minnesota
3/28/2025 9:31:00 PM | Softball
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Northwestern swept a Friday doubleheader at Minnesota behind a pair of dominant complete game outings from its starting pitchers to improve to 6-0 in Big Ten play for the first time since 2021.
Lauren Boyd tossed a complete game shutout to open the series, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out 10 in a 2-0 victory. It marks the second double-digit strikeout performance of the season for Boyd, as well as her first complete game shutout since April 2, 2023 at Iowa. Boyd is 6-0 with two saves, 44 strikeouts and a 1.77 ERA (10 ER/39.1 IP) in her last eight outings, and leads the team with five complete games on the season.
Riley Grudzielanek made the start in game two and earned her seventh win of the season in what marked her fourth complete game performance, allowing just three hits while striking out four in a 3-2 win. Grudzielanek allowed just two runs, both of which came in the first inning, before tossing six-straight scoreless innings to close out the game. Grudzielanek improves to 4-0 in four Big Ten appearances this season, with a team-best 1.78 ERA (5 ER/19.2 IP).
With the wins, Northwestern secures its first series victory at Minnesota since 2006. The Wildcats have now won 19-consecutive Big Ten series, dating back to the start of the 2023 season. Northwestern currently sits atop the Big Ten standing at 6-0, the only remaining unbeaten team in the conference.
The last time the Wildcats started conference play 6-0 was during the 2021 Big Ten-only regular season, when they won their first nine games all of which were played in Leesburg, Florida. Two seasons prior to that in the 2019 season, the 'Cats opened Big Ten play with 20-straight conference wins.
The Wildcats and Gophers were locked in a pitchers duel in game one, entering the seventh inning knotted at 0-0. Grace Minarovic jumpstarted a rally with a two-out single and proceeded to score the eventual game-winning run the next at-bat with heads up baserunning off an Avery Garden single. Grace Nieto extended the lead with another two-out single–the 'Cats third hit in a row–to drive in Garden and make the score 2-0.
The 'Cats jumped out to an early lead in game two after Kansas Robinson sent a one-out single off the center field wall to drive in Kelsey Nader. Bridget Donahey added another run the next at-bat with a sacrifice fly to bring home Kaylie Avvisato.
Minnesota responded with two runs in the bottom of the first inning, and after three back-and-forth innings of scoreless ball Garden broke the tie with a solo home run with two outs in the top of the fifth inning. It marked the second career homer for Garden, who currently leads the team with a .444 average (8-for-18) in Big Ten play.
The Wildcats and Gophers are scheduled to finish the weekend series on Saturday afternoon, with first pitch slated for 2 pm CT on B1G+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Boyd, Lauren (7-2)
L: Syndey Schwartz (4-10)
Batting:
2B: Nieto, Grace 1 ; Raye, Emma 1
RBI: Nieto, Grace 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Minarovic, Grace 1 ; Garden, Avery 1
SB: Donahey, Bridget 1 ; Minarovic, Grace 1
CS: Avvisato, Kaylie 1
