Friday, May 2
Los Angeles, Calif.
6 pm CT
Northwestern
at
#8 UCLA
Wildcats Wrap Up Regular Season at UCLA
5/1/2025 4:53:00 PM | Softball
LOS ANGELES – Fresh off a dramatic series victory this past weekend, Northwestern heads to the west coast to wrap up its regular season campaign with a weekend series at UCLA. The Wildcats and Bruins will face off three times, with each game being broadcast live on Big Ten Network.
First pitch for Friday's game is scheduled for 6 pm CT/4 pm PT, game two on Saturday begins at 2 pm CT/12 pm PT and Sunday's weekend finale will start at 1 pm CT/11 am PT. Chris Vosters (play-by-play) and Amanda Freed (analyst) will be on the call for BTN throughout the series.
This marks the first meeting between the Wildcats and Bruins since UCLA joined the Big Ten ahead of this season. Despite this being their first time meeting in the same conference, Northwestern and UCLA have a rich history over the years. Northwestern and UCLA have faced off 23 times, with UCLA holding an 18-5 advantage. The teams have met in each of the last three regular seasons, with UCLA taking a pair of pitcher's duels (1-0 in 2024, 2-1 in 2023) at the Mary Nutter Classic and Northwestern winning a 6-4 extra-innings thriller at the ESPN St. Pete Clearwater Elite Invitational in 2022 off a three-run walk-off home run by Maeve Nelson that was subsequently named No. 5 on SportsCenter's 'Top 10 Plays' that day.
Northwestern and UCLA have faced off four separate times in the Women's College World Series (1984, 1985, 2006, 2022)–more than any other opponent that Northwestern has faced in OKC in 20 WCWS games played. Both of the Bruins' wins in the 1980's came in 1-0 fashion in 1984 and 1985. 21 years later, it was Northwestern that came out on top with a 3-1 victory in eight innings to clinch a spot in the 2006 Women's College World Series Championship Series thanks back-to-back homers from Tammy Williams and Garland Cooper in the eighth inning to go along with a gem in the circle from Eileen Canney.
In their most recent Women's College World Series meeting with UCLA in 2022, the Bruins took a 6-1 decision to end the 'Cats' historic season. Grace Nieto, a first-year at the time, finished that game 2-for-3 with an RBI-double in the bottom of the fifth inning to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Both programs have ranked among the most dominant teams in their respective conferences in recent years, with UCLA capturing back-to-back PAC-12 regular season titles in 2023 and 2024, while Northwestern has won the last three Big Ten regular season championships from 2022 through 2024. Entering this weekend, UCLA sits at 16-3 in the Big Ten standings–one game behind first place Oregon (17-2)–while Northwestern sits in a three-way tie for third place with Ohio State and Nebraska at 14-5.
Most recently, Northwestern earned a series victory over Wisconsin thanks to a decisive 11-3 run-rule victory on Friday and a dramatic come-from-behind 4-3 victory on Sunday after a two-run walk-off home run by Kaylie Avvisato. The Wildcats trailed Sunday's game 4-0 entering the bottom of the seventh inning before rallying with four hits and four runs scored in what marked the first walk-off home run for the 'Cats since Kansas Robinson launched a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to take down Nebraska, 8-6, on April 29, 2023.
Avvisato finished the weekend with a team-high six hits and three RBI, hitting .545 (6-for-11) with three doubles, three runs scored and her walk-off home run. She reached base multiple times in all three games against the Badgers, including a two-hit effort on Saturday followed by a 3-for-4 showing on Sunday. The rookie from Leesburg, Virginia has now turned in 14 multi-hit games on the season–tied with Kelsey Nader for the most on the team–including seven three-hit games which already ranks as the most by a Wildcat since 2018 (Sabrina Rabin; 8). Entering the final week of regular season play, Avvisato currently leads the team with a .379 batting average (53-for-140)–fifth-best among Big Ten rookies. Avvisato is also hitting .375 (24-for-64) in Big Ten play, which is on pace for the highest mark in conference play by a Wildcat rookie since Morgan Nelson hit .375 as a first-year in 2016.
In the circle this past weekend, the Wildcats were led by graduate pitcher Lauren Boyd. Boyd went 2-0 with a pair of complete games vs. Wisconsin, totaling a 2.92 ERA (5 ER/12.0 IP) while striking out eight batters and stranding a total of 16 badgers on-base across 12.0 innings pitched. In conference play this season, Boyd currently ranks fourth among all Big Ten pitchers in ERA (2.52) and fifth in opponent batting average (.216). With a team-leading 94.1 innings pitched this season, Boyd is just 9.0 innings away from surpassing her career high for innings pitched in a single season (103.0 in 2023). On the year, Northwestern is 15-4 as a team in games that Boyd has pitched in.
In her last four appearances in the circle, Riley Grudzielanek holds a 2.62 ERA (4 ER/13.1 IP) while striking out seven, headlined by throwing her first-career no-hitter at UIC on April 22 to become the 18th different Wildcat pitcher to throw a no-hitter. Grudzielanek holds a 2.90 ERA (13 ER/31.3 IP) in eight conference games this season, second on the team only to Boyd and eighth among all Big Ten pitchers. The sophomore hurler from Oak Creek, Wisconsin has thrown seven complete games this year, second on the 'Cats behind Boyd (8). Northwestern is one of only three Big Ten teams (UCLA and Iowa) to have two pitchers with seven or more complete games this season.
Northwestern is 7-1 over its last eight games, having outscored opponents 62-16 in that span while earning three-straight run-rule victories from April 20 to April 25. In those eight games, both Isabel Cunnea (10-for-20) and Bridget Donahey (7-for-14) have posted batting averages of .500. Cunnea recorded an RBI in four-consecutive games last week, headlined by her first-ever three-hit performance on Friday's win vs. Wisconsin. Cunnea currently ranks second on the team with a .353 batting average on the year and has posted nine multi-hit games, more than double her total from last season (4).
Donahey has reached base in 13 of her last 20 plate appearances and continues to leads the team this season in OPS (1.089), slugging percentage (.630) and home runs (8). Donahey also enters the weekend tied with Nader for the team lead in on-base percentage (.459) after ranking second on the team last season with an OBP of .450; she is looking to become the first Wildcat to post consecutive seasons with an on-base percentage of .450 or better since Rachel Lewis did so in 2021 and 2022.
Following this weekend, Northwestern sets its sights on the Big Ten Tournament hosted by Purdue in West Lafayette, Indiana beginning on Wednesday, May 7, with the top four seeds receiving a bye into Thursday. Seeds for the tournament and a complete bracket will be released on Sunday following the conclusion of all conference games. Fans can follow updates on NUSports.com and the Northwestern Softball Twitter feed for more information.
First pitch for Friday's game is scheduled for 6 pm CT/4 pm PT, game two on Saturday begins at 2 pm CT/12 pm PT and Sunday's weekend finale will start at 1 pm CT/11 am PT. Chris Vosters (play-by-play) and Amanda Freed (analyst) will be on the call for BTN throughout the series.
This marks the first meeting between the Wildcats and Bruins since UCLA joined the Big Ten ahead of this season. Despite this being their first time meeting in the same conference, Northwestern and UCLA have a rich history over the years. Northwestern and UCLA have faced off 23 times, with UCLA holding an 18-5 advantage. The teams have met in each of the last three regular seasons, with UCLA taking a pair of pitcher's duels (1-0 in 2024, 2-1 in 2023) at the Mary Nutter Classic and Northwestern winning a 6-4 extra-innings thriller at the ESPN St. Pete Clearwater Elite Invitational in 2022 off a three-run walk-off home run by Maeve Nelson that was subsequently named No. 5 on SportsCenter's 'Top 10 Plays' that day.
Northwestern and UCLA have faced off four separate times in the Women's College World Series (1984, 1985, 2006, 2022)–more than any other opponent that Northwestern has faced in OKC in 20 WCWS games played. Both of the Bruins' wins in the 1980's came in 1-0 fashion in 1984 and 1985. 21 years later, it was Northwestern that came out on top with a 3-1 victory in eight innings to clinch a spot in the 2006 Women's College World Series Championship Series thanks back-to-back homers from Tammy Williams and Garland Cooper in the eighth inning to go along with a gem in the circle from Eileen Canney.
Favorite moment from that 2006 WCWS win over UCLA?
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) May 31, 2020
Taking the lead back in the 8th with back-to-back homers.
Hear the full story told by @tammywilliams2, @GarlandCooper23 & @KateDrohan.#B1GCats | @NCAASoftball pic.twitter.com/Cjobr5Dgji
In their most recent Women's College World Series meeting with UCLA in 2022, the Bruins took a 6-1 decision to end the 'Cats' historic season. Grace Nieto, a first-year at the time, finished that game 2-for-3 with an RBI-double in the bottom of the fifth inning to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Both programs have ranked among the most dominant teams in their respective conferences in recent years, with UCLA capturing back-to-back PAC-12 regular season titles in 2023 and 2024, while Northwestern has won the last three Big Ten regular season championships from 2022 through 2024. Entering this weekend, UCLA sits at 16-3 in the Big Ten standings–one game behind first place Oregon (17-2)–while Northwestern sits in a three-way tie for third place with Ohio State and Nebraska at 14-5.
Most recently, Northwestern earned a series victory over Wisconsin thanks to a decisive 11-3 run-rule victory on Friday and a dramatic come-from-behind 4-3 victory on Sunday after a two-run walk-off home run by Kaylie Avvisato. The Wildcats trailed Sunday's game 4-0 entering the bottom of the seventh inning before rallying with four hits and four runs scored in what marked the first walk-off home run for the 'Cats since Kansas Robinson launched a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to take down Nebraska, 8-6, on April 29, 2023.
One to Remember. 7th Inning Rally Recap ??? pic.twitter.com/AClieGlIEi
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) April 28, 2025
Avvisato finished the weekend with a team-high six hits and three RBI, hitting .545 (6-for-11) with three doubles, three runs scored and her walk-off home run. She reached base multiple times in all three games against the Badgers, including a two-hit effort on Saturday followed by a 3-for-4 showing on Sunday. The rookie from Leesburg, Virginia has now turned in 14 multi-hit games on the season–tied with Kelsey Nader for the most on the team–including seven three-hit games which already ranks as the most by a Wildcat since 2018 (Sabrina Rabin; 8). Entering the final week of regular season play, Avvisato currently leads the team with a .379 batting average (53-for-140)–fifth-best among Big Ten rookies. Avvisato is also hitting .375 (24-for-64) in Big Ten play, which is on pace for the highest mark in conference play by a Wildcat rookie since Morgan Nelson hit .375 as a first-year in 2016.
In the circle this past weekend, the Wildcats were led by graduate pitcher Lauren Boyd. Boyd went 2-0 with a pair of complete games vs. Wisconsin, totaling a 2.92 ERA (5 ER/12.0 IP) while striking out eight batters and stranding a total of 16 badgers on-base across 12.0 innings pitched. In conference play this season, Boyd currently ranks fourth among all Big Ten pitchers in ERA (2.52) and fifth in opponent batting average (.216). With a team-leading 94.1 innings pitched this season, Boyd is just 9.0 innings away from surpassing her career high for innings pitched in a single season (103.0 in 2023). On the year, Northwestern is 15-4 as a team in games that Boyd has pitched in.
In her last four appearances in the circle, Riley Grudzielanek holds a 2.62 ERA (4 ER/13.1 IP) while striking out seven, headlined by throwing her first-career no-hitter at UIC on April 22 to become the 18th different Wildcat pitcher to throw a no-hitter. Grudzielanek holds a 2.90 ERA (13 ER/31.3 IP) in eight conference games this season, second on the team only to Boyd and eighth among all Big Ten pitchers. The sophomore hurler from Oak Creek, Wisconsin has thrown seven complete games this year, second on the 'Cats behind Boyd (8). Northwestern is one of only three Big Ten teams (UCLA and Iowa) to have two pitchers with seven or more complete games this season.
Northwestern is 7-1 over its last eight games, having outscored opponents 62-16 in that span while earning three-straight run-rule victories from April 20 to April 25. In those eight games, both Isabel Cunnea (10-for-20) and Bridget Donahey (7-for-14) have posted batting averages of .500. Cunnea recorded an RBI in four-consecutive games last week, headlined by her first-ever three-hit performance on Friday's win vs. Wisconsin. Cunnea currently ranks second on the team with a .353 batting average on the year and has posted nine multi-hit games, more than double her total from last season (4).
Donahey has reached base in 13 of her last 20 plate appearances and continues to leads the team this season in OPS (1.089), slugging percentage (.630) and home runs (8). Donahey also enters the weekend tied with Nader for the team lead in on-base percentage (.459) after ranking second on the team last season with an OBP of .450; she is looking to become the first Wildcat to post consecutive seasons with an on-base percentage of .450 or better since Rachel Lewis did so in 2021 and 2022.
Following this weekend, Northwestern sets its sights on the Big Ten Tournament hosted by Purdue in West Lafayette, Indiana beginning on Wednesday, May 7, with the top four seeds receiving a bye into Thursday. Seeds for the tournament and a complete bracket will be released on Sunday following the conclusion of all conference games. Fans can follow updates on NUSports.com and the Northwestern Softball Twitter feed for more information.
Players Mentioned
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/ 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
