Saturday, April 19
Piscataway, NJ
2 pm CT
Northwestern
23-16-1, 11-4
4
at
2
Rutgers
17-30, 1-14
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Northwestern
0
1
0
2
1
0
0
4
6
1
Rutgers
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
4
3
Cunningham Tosses Gem in Relief, ‘Cats Earn Series Victory at Rutgers
4/19/2025 5:58:00 PM | Softball
PISCATAWAY, NJ – Northwestern secured its fifth Big Ten series victory of the season and improved to 11-4 in conference play on Saturday afternoon with a 4-2 win at Rutgers.
Renae Cunningham delivered a gem in relief, throwing 5.2 scoreless innings of relief while allowing just two hits and striking out three. It marked just the second time in Cunningham's career throwing 5.0+ innings while allowing no runs–the other instance occurring on her first-career start vs. Weber State on February 8, 2024 (5.0 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 8 strikeouts)–as well as the second-longest outing of her career (6.0 IP in a 6-3 win over Indiana on May 3, 2024).
Cunningham entered in a bases loaded jam with one out in the bottom of the second inning and the Wildcats trailing, 2-1, before escaping the jam in just four pitches after quickly inducing a double play to Bridget Donahey.
Donahey finished the game 3-for-4 with a solo home run and scored three of the Wildcats' four runs in the game. It marked the third three hit game of the season for Donahey, who now leads the team with eight homers on the season.
Trailing 2-1 entering the top of the fourth inning, Northwestern rallied with two runs to take the lead for good. Kansas Robinson led off the inning with a walk and eventually came around to score on a passed ball to even the score at 2-2. Later in the inning, Grace Nieto drew a two-out walk with the bases loaded to bring home Donahey and give the 'Cats the lead for good.
Northwestern extended its lead with a two-out rally in the top of the fifth inning. Donahey jumpstarted the rally with a single, followed by a stolen base to get into scoring position, and Isabel Cunnea proceeded to drive in Donahey with a two-out single to left field. It marked the 15th RBI of the season for Cunnea, who has now reached base safely in seven-consecutive games.
Cunningham finished the game retiring the final eight Rutgers batters she faced. In total, she retired 16-of-18 batters faced throughout the game.
Northwestern will look to secure the series sweep on Sunday as it closes the weekend at Rutgers with a 12 pm CT first pitch, streamed live on B1G+.
Renae Cunningham delivered a gem in relief, throwing 5.2 scoreless innings of relief while allowing just two hits and striking out three. It marked just the second time in Cunningham's career throwing 5.0+ innings while allowing no runs–the other instance occurring on her first-career start vs. Weber State on February 8, 2024 (5.0 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 8 strikeouts)–as well as the second-longest outing of her career (6.0 IP in a 6-3 win over Indiana on May 3, 2024).
Cunningham entered in a bases loaded jam with one out in the bottom of the second inning and the Wildcats trailing, 2-1, before escaping the jam in just four pitches after quickly inducing a double play to Bridget Donahey.
Inning over! Bridget Donahey turns two ?? pic.twitter.com/rtObpq0kiP
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) April 19, 2025
Donahey finished the game 3-for-4 with a solo home run and scored three of the Wildcats' four runs in the game. It marked the third three hit game of the season for Donahey, who now leads the team with eight homers on the season.
Bridget Bomb! Tie Ballgame ??
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) April 19, 2025
Donahey sends a frozen rope to left field for her team-leading 8th homer of the season!
T2 | NU 1, Rutgers 1 pic.twitter.com/Hphd15q8c3
Trailing 2-1 entering the top of the fourth inning, Northwestern rallied with two runs to take the lead for good. Kansas Robinson led off the inning with a walk and eventually came around to score on a passed ball to even the score at 2-2. Later in the inning, Grace Nieto drew a two-out walk with the bases loaded to bring home Donahey and give the 'Cats the lead for good.
Northwestern extended its lead with a two-out rally in the top of the fifth inning. Donahey jumpstarted the rally with a single, followed by a stolen base to get into scoring position, and Isabel Cunnea proceeded to drive in Donahey with a two-out single to left field. It marked the 15th RBI of the season for Cunnea, who has now reached base safely in seven-consecutive games.
Cunningham finished the game retiring the final eight Rutgers batters she faced. In total, she retired 16-of-18 batters faced throughout the game.
Northwestern will look to secure the series sweep on Sunday as it closes the weekend at Rutgers with a 12 pm CT first pitch, streamed live on B1G+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Cunningham, Renae (3-2)
L: Harrison, Ella (11-16)
Batting:
2B: Cunnea, Isabel 1
HR: Donahey, Bridget 1
RBI: Nieto, Grace 1 ; Donahey, Bridget 1 ; Cunnea, Isabel 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Robinson, Kansas 1 ; Donahey, Bridget 3
SB: Nieto, Grace 1 ; Donahey, Bridget 1 ; Lindsey, Ayana 1
Batting:
2B: Matthews, LA 1
RBI: Hwang, Riley 1 ; Ingle, Georgia 1
SH: Amadio, Allison 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Briggs, Bailey 1 ; Osborne, Addie 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
ss/3b
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
0
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
IF
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Saturday, May 03
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Sunday, April 27
