Saturday, May 17
Clemson, SC
6:35 pm CT
Northwestern
30-20-1
3
vs
8
Kentucky
31-27
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Kentucky
0
7
1
0
0
0
0
8
10
0
Northwestern
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
3
5
3
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
Wildcats’ 2025 Season Comes to a Close in Clemson
5/17/2025 9:34:00 PM | Softball
CLEMSON, SC – Northwestern dropped a pair of Saturday matchups in the Clemson Regional to No. 11 Clemson and Kentucky as its 2025 season came to a close.
The Wildcats went toe-to-toe with the No. 11 ranked hosts Clemson in the first game of the afternoon, taking the game to extras in a scoreless tie before falling, 1-0, in nine innings. In the nightcap of the double elimination regional, Northwestern fell to Kentucky, 8-3.
After throwing a complete game shutout on Friday, Lauren Boyd started game two and turned in another gem in the circle. Boyd tossed 8.1 scoreless innings to start the game, extending her scoreless innings streak to 15.1 consecutive scoreless innings to open the NCAA Regional, before surrendering the lone run of the game on a squeeze bunt. Boyd finished the game throwing a career-high 9.0 innings while allowing just seven hits and striking out nine. It marked the 12th complete game of the season for Boyd.
Over her final eight starts of the season, Boyd went 7-1 with a 1.23 ERA (9 ER/51.0 IP) while throwing a complete game in each of her final five starts. Boyd finishes her fifth-year campaign with a 15-5 record, a 2.30 ERA (41 ER/125.0 IP), 117 strikeouts and a .216 opponent batting average, all of which are career bests.
Isabel Cunnea matched her career high vs. Clemson with three of the Wildcats' four hits, the 12th multi-hit effort of the season for the sophomore.
Against Kentucky, Kansas Robinson got the 'Cats on the board first with a two-out RBI-triple to drive in Grace Nieto. Robinson finished the season with a career-best 41 RBI. The junior has led the team in RBI in consecutive seasons, becoming the first Wildcat to do so since Andrea Filler in 2016 and 2017. Nieto finished the game with an RBI and a stolen base, finishing the season a perfect 15-for-15 on stolen base attempts
After falling behind in the second and third innings to Kentucky, the Wildcats tossed four-straight scoreless innings to close the game. Signe Dohse pitched 4.1 innings of relief, allowing just four hits and one run, while Emma Blea tossed a scoreless frame in the seventh inning.
Northwestern plated two in the bottom of the seventh inning after Emma Raye led off the frame with a double and was driven in by Nieto. Later that inning, Kaylie Avvisato drove in Ayana Lindsey with a sacrifice fly.
Kentucky advances to face No. 11 Clemson in Sunday's Regional Final, beginning at 12 pm CT.
The Wildcats went toe-to-toe with the No. 11 ranked hosts Clemson in the first game of the afternoon, taking the game to extras in a scoreless tie before falling, 1-0, in nine innings. In the nightcap of the double elimination regional, Northwestern fell to Kentucky, 8-3.
After throwing a complete game shutout on Friday, Lauren Boyd started game two and turned in another gem in the circle. Boyd tossed 8.1 scoreless innings to start the game, extending her scoreless innings streak to 15.1 consecutive scoreless innings to open the NCAA Regional, before surrendering the lone run of the game on a squeeze bunt. Boyd finished the game throwing a career-high 9.0 innings while allowing just seven hits and striking out nine. It marked the 12th complete game of the season for Boyd.
Over her final eight starts of the season, Boyd went 7-1 with a 1.23 ERA (9 ER/51.0 IP) while throwing a complete game in each of her final five starts. Boyd finishes her fifth-year campaign with a 15-5 record, a 2.30 ERA (41 ER/125.0 IP), 117 strikeouts and a .216 opponent batting average, all of which are career bests.
Isabel Cunnea matched her career high vs. Clemson with three of the Wildcats' four hits, the 12th multi-hit effort of the season for the sophomore.
Against Kentucky, Kansas Robinson got the 'Cats on the board first with a two-out RBI-triple to drive in Grace Nieto. Robinson finished the season with a career-best 41 RBI. The junior has led the team in RBI in consecutive seasons, becoming the first Wildcat to do so since Andrea Filler in 2016 and 2017. Nieto finished the game with an RBI and a stolen base, finishing the season a perfect 15-for-15 on stolen base attempts
After falling behind in the second and third innings to Kentucky, the Wildcats tossed four-straight scoreless innings to close the game. Signe Dohse pitched 4.1 innings of relief, allowing just four hits and one run, while Emma Blea tossed a scoreless frame in the seventh inning.
Northwestern plated two in the bottom of the seventh inning after Emma Raye led off the frame with a double and was driven in by Nieto. Later that inning, Kaylie Avvisato drove in Ayana Lindsey with a sacrifice fly.
Kentucky advances to face No. 11 Clemson in Sunday's Regional Final, beginning at 12 pm CT.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Sydney Langdon (4-7)
L: Grudzielanek, Riley (9-11)
Batting:
2B: Allie Blum 1 ; Ella Emmert 1
HR: Ally Hutchins 1
RBI: Allie Blum 2 ; Madyson Clark 2 ; Peyton Plotts 1 ; Ally Hutchins 1 ; Ella Emmert 1
SH: Ella Emmert 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Allie Blum 1 ; Madyson Clark 1 ; Peyton Plotts 1 ; Cassie Reasner 1 ; Ally Hutchins 2 ; Ella Emmert 1 ; Emory Donaldson 1
HBP: Ella Emmert 1
Batting:
2B: Nader, Kelsey 1 ; Raye, Emma 1 ; Lindsey, Ayana 1
3B: Robinson, Kansas 1
RBI: Nieto, Grace 1 ; Avvisato, Kaylie 1 ; Robinson, Kansas 1
SF: Avvisato, Kaylie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nieto, Grace 1 ; Raye, Emma 1 ; Lindsey, Ayana 1
SB: Nieto, Grace 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P/U
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballIF
/ 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
