Tuesday, April 22
Chicago, Ill.
6 pm CT
Northwestern
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UIC
8-39
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Northwestern
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Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
Grudzielanek Throws No-Hitter, 'Cats Run-Rule UIC, 11-0
4/22/2025 10:28:00 PM | Softball
CHICAGO, Ill. – Northwestern cruised to its second-straight 11-0 run-rule victory on Tuesday evening with an emphatic win over UIC in the West Loop.
Riley Grudzielanek threw her first-career no-hitter, striking out five in five scoreless innings. Grudzielanek is the 18th different Wildcat in program history to throw a no-hitter, and the first to do so since Danielle Williams on March 20, 2022 against Stanford. In her last two midweek outings over the past six days, Grudzielanek is 2-0 with one hit, six strikeouts and no runs allowed across 9.0 innings.
Northwestern saw 10 different Wildcats reach base throughout the game, tallying five hits while drawing a season-high 10 walks in five innings at the plate. Kansas Robinson reached base three times, matching her career-high with three walks, while Avery Garden scored a team-high three runs, going 1-for-1 with a solo home run and two walks.
Garden's solo homer in the top of the third inning kicked off the scoring for the 'Cats. It marked Garden's third long ball of the season, and her first since hitting the eventual game-winning homer in a 3-2 win at Minnesota on March 28. Later that inning, the 'Cats extended their lead after back-to-back singles from Kelsey Nader and Kaylie Avvisato saw Nader come around to score.
The 'Cats broke the game open in the fourth inning, combining to score eight runs on just one hit. Seven of the first eight Wildcat hitters reached base to start the inning, all via walk. Grace Nieto, Nader, Grace Minarovic and Robinson all came up with walks with the bases loaded to drive in the first four runs of the inning.
With the bases still loaded in the top of the fourth, and the Wildcats holding a 6-0 lead, Isabel Cunnea put the game into run-rule territory with a one-out RBI-single to center field to drive in Minarovic and Nader. Cunnea has now reached base safely in nine-consecutive games. Two more 'Cats came around to score in the fourth inning as the result of a Flames wild pitch and error.
The Wildcats tacked on another run in the fifth inning thanks to a one-out walk from Garden, a double from Kate Dowden and the first-career RBI from Hannah Cushing to drive in Garden. From there, Grudzielanek retired the Flames in order in the bottom of the fifth to lock up the no-hitter.
In their last outing at Rutgers, Northwestern capped off a weekend series sweep with an 11-0 win over Rutgers in five innings. This marks the Wildcat' first time posting back-to-back run-rule wins since opening weekend of the 2024 season, when they defeated St. Thomas and Weber State in five innings apiece on February 10 and February 11.
Northwestern is back in action this weekend for a three-game series vs. Wisconsin, beginning on Friday, April 25 with first pitch at 4pm CT. Saturday's game begins at 2 pm CT and is Alumni Day as the Wildcats welcome back an array of program legends from the past 50 years of Northwestern Softball. Sunday's game at 1:30 pm CT marks Senior Day at The J.
Riley Grudzielanek threw her first-career no-hitter, striking out five in five scoreless innings. Grudzielanek is the 18th different Wildcat in program history to throw a no-hitter, and the first to do so since Danielle Williams on March 20, 2022 against Stanford. In her last two midweek outings over the past six days, Grudzielanek is 2-0 with one hit, six strikeouts and no runs allowed across 9.0 innings.
Northwestern saw 10 different Wildcats reach base throughout the game, tallying five hits while drawing a season-high 10 walks in five innings at the plate. Kansas Robinson reached base three times, matching her career-high with three walks, while Avery Garden scored a team-high three runs, going 1-for-1 with a solo home run and two walks.
Garden's solo homer in the top of the third inning kicked off the scoring for the 'Cats. It marked Garden's third long ball of the season, and her first since hitting the eventual game-winning homer in a 3-2 win at Minnesota on March 28. Later that inning, the 'Cats extended their lead after back-to-back singles from Kelsey Nader and Kaylie Avvisato saw Nader come around to score.
The 'Cats broke the game open in the fourth inning, combining to score eight runs on just one hit. Seven of the first eight Wildcat hitters reached base to start the inning, all via walk. Grace Nieto, Nader, Grace Minarovic and Robinson all came up with walks with the bases loaded to drive in the first four runs of the inning.
With the bases still loaded in the top of the fourth, and the Wildcats holding a 6-0 lead, Isabel Cunnea put the game into run-rule territory with a one-out RBI-single to center field to drive in Minarovic and Nader. Cunnea has now reached base safely in nine-consecutive games. Two more 'Cats came around to score in the fourth inning as the result of a Flames wild pitch and error.
The Wildcats tacked on another run in the fifth inning thanks to a one-out walk from Garden, a double from Kate Dowden and the first-career RBI from Hannah Cushing to drive in Garden. From there, Grudzielanek retired the Flames in order in the bottom of the fifth to lock up the no-hitter.
In their last outing at Rutgers, Northwestern capped off a weekend series sweep with an 11-0 win over Rutgers in five innings. This marks the Wildcat' first time posting back-to-back run-rule wins since opening weekend of the 2024 season, when they defeated St. Thomas and Weber State in five innings apiece on February 10 and February 11.
Northwestern is back in action this weekend for a three-game series vs. Wisconsin, beginning on Friday, April 25 with first pitch at 4pm CT. Saturday's game begins at 2 pm CT and is Alumni Day as the Wildcats welcome back an array of program legends from the past 50 years of Northwestern Softball. Sunday's game at 1:30 pm CT marks Senior Day at The J.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Grudzielanek, Riley (9-9)
L: WHORLEY (5-19)
Batting:
2B: Dowden, Kate 1
HR: Garden, Avery 1
RBI: Nieto, Grace 1 ; Nader, Kelsey 1 ; Cushing, Hannah 1 ; Minarovic, Grace 1 ; Robinson, Kansas 1 ; Cunnea, Isabel 2 ; Garden, Avery 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nieto, Grace 1 ; Nader, Kelsey 2 ; Minarovic, Grace 1 ; Robinson, Kansas 1 ; Cunnea, Isabel 1 ; Sciborski, Lauren 1 ; Dohse, Signe 1 ; Garden, Avery 3
SB: Cunnea, Isabel 1
Batting:
SH: STICKNEY 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
rf/cf
AB
2
R
2
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
IF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballOF
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UTL
/ Softball
P/IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
P/U
/ 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
