Wildcats Drop Series Opener vs. No. 23 Nebraska

EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern dropped an 11-1 decision to No. 23 Nebraska in five innings on Saturday to open a three-game set against the Cornhuskers at Sharon J. Drysdale Field.

An eight-run top of the second inning for the Huskers proved to be the difference. Six different Wildcats reached base throughout the game as Northwestern threatened offensively in multiple innings, but ultimately left seven runners on base.

Kaylie Avvisato provided the Wildcats lone run, reaching base twice and hitting a towering solo homer to left field in the bottom of the third inning to trim the deficit to 8-1 at the time. It marked Avvisato's third home run of the season, and her first at Sharon J. Drysdale Field. In the bottom of the first inning, Avvisato recorded her 19th stolen base of the season, her sixth-straight game with a stolen base. She is now one stolen bag away from becoming the first Wildcat to steal 20 bases in a season since Skyler Shellmyer in 2023, and the first Wildcat rookie to do so since Rachel Lewis in 2018.

Lauren Boyd made the start for the Wildcats and allowed six runs (five earned) while facing 10 batters before turning the game over to Signe Dohse. Dohse helped stabilize the middle of the game for the 'Cats, at one point retiring 11 of 12 batters from the second inning through the top of the fifth, before a two-out Nebraska rally yielded three more runs and put the game in run-rule territory.

Northwestern will look to bounce back and even the series on Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for 4 pm CT on Big Ten Network.

Wildcats Drop Series Opener vs. No. 23 Nebraska

Next Event

Team Stats

Kaylie Avvisato

Isabel Cunnea

Kelsey Nader

Grace Nieto

Players Mentioned

Kaylie Avvisato

Lauren Boyd

Signe Dohse

Skyler Shellmyer

Northwestern University Athletics