Friday, May 2
Los Angeles, Calif.
6 pm CT
Northwestern
28-16-1, 15-5
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#8 UCLA
46-8, 16-4
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Northwestern
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UCLA
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Wildcats Open Weekend with Run-Rule Win at No. 8 UCLA
5/2/2025 10:34:00 PM | Softball
LOS ANGELES – Northwestern opened its final regular season series with a statement run-rule victory at No. 8 UCLA, taking down the Bruins, 8-0, in six innings on Friday evening at Easton Stadium.
The win marks Northwestern's second Top-10 victory of the season, having previously taken down No. 8 Duke on February 8, as well as the Wildcats' first run-rule win over a Top-10 opponent since March 8, 2009 vs. No. 8 Tennessee (11-3 in six innings).
The Wildcats have now won nine-straight road games this season, currently boasting a 7-0 mark on the road against Big Ten opponents. UCLA entered the game 18-0 at Easton Stadium this season, and having won 24 home games in a row dating back to April 27, 2024.
Lauren Boyd tossed a complete game shutout in the circle, allowing just three hits while striking out four in 6.0 innings. It marks Boyd's second solo shutout of the season, as well as her team-leading ninth complete game on the year. Boyd improves to 13-4 on the season with a team-best 2.51 ERA (36 ER/100.1 IP) and .221 opponent batting average. As a team, Northwestern is 16-4 in games that Boyd has pitched in.
Five different Wildcats chipped in for nine total hits on Friday, led by Grace Nieto who reached base in all four of her plate appearances, going 3-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in the top of the second inning. It marked the fifth-career home run for Nieto, and the third of which that was hit in the state of California (Feb. 23, 2025 vs. Cal at the Mary Nutter Classic, Feb. 27, 2022 vs. Texas Tech at the Nutter Classic). Nieto has now hit a new single-season career-high three homers in the season, all of which since she was moved to the leadoff spot on Feb. 23. Friday also marked Nieto's fourth different game this season recording three hits.
Avery Garden jumpstarted the scoring for the Wildcats in the second inning, hitting a towering two-run homer to right field with two outs for her fourth long ball of the season. The next inning, Garden came through with two outs again, driving in Ayana Lindsey with an RBI-single to extend Northwestern's lead to 7-0. Garden finished the game going 2-for-3 with a career-high three RBI, her third multi-hit game of the season and her fifth multi-RBI game on the year.
Garden and Nieto's home runs came back-to-back in the second inning to give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead. It's the fourth time this season the Wildcats hit back-to-back home runs, and the first time since March 29 at Minnesota.
In the third inning, Northwestern opened up its lead with another series of clutch two-out hits, headlined by a bases-clearing triple from Lindsey to extend the lead to 6-0. Lindsey finished the game 1-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored, her most RBI in a game since March 24, 2024.
Kelsey Nader also turned in her team-leading 15th multi-hit performance of the season, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Northwestern has now won eight of its last nine games dating back to April 16, earning run-rule victories in four of those wins. The Wildcats and Bruins will continue their three-game set on Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 2 pm CT on Big Ten Network.
The win marks Northwestern's second Top-10 victory of the season, having previously taken down No. 8 Duke on February 8, as well as the Wildcats' first run-rule win over a Top-10 opponent since March 8, 2009 vs. No. 8 Tennessee (11-3 in six innings).
The Wildcats have now won nine-straight road games this season, currently boasting a 7-0 mark on the road against Big Ten opponents. UCLA entered the game 18-0 at Easton Stadium this season, and having won 24 home games in a row dating back to April 27, 2024.
Lauren Boyd tossed a complete game shutout in the circle, allowing just three hits while striking out four in 6.0 innings. It marks Boyd's second solo shutout of the season, as well as her team-leading ninth complete game on the year. Boyd improves to 13-4 on the season with a team-best 2.51 ERA (36 ER/100.1 IP) and .221 opponent batting average. As a team, Northwestern is 16-4 in games that Boyd has pitched in.
Five different Wildcats chipped in for nine total hits on Friday, led by Grace Nieto who reached base in all four of her plate appearances, going 3-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in the top of the second inning. It marked the fifth-career home run for Nieto, and the third of which that was hit in the state of California (Feb. 23, 2025 vs. Cal at the Mary Nutter Classic, Feb. 27, 2022 vs. Texas Tech at the Nutter Classic). Nieto has now hit a new single-season career-high three homers in the season, all of which since she was moved to the leadoff spot on Feb. 23. Friday also marked Nieto's fourth different game this season recording three hits.
Avery Garden jumpstarted the scoring for the Wildcats in the second inning, hitting a towering two-run homer to right field with two outs for her fourth long ball of the season. The next inning, Garden came through with two outs again, driving in Ayana Lindsey with an RBI-single to extend Northwestern's lead to 7-0. Garden finished the game going 2-for-3 with a career-high three RBI, her third multi-hit game of the season and her fifth multi-RBI game on the year.
Garden and Nieto's home runs came back-to-back in the second inning to give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead. It's the fourth time this season the Wildcats hit back-to-back home runs, and the first time since March 29 at Minnesota.
THE BACK-TO-BACK 'CATS ????@NUSBcats take a three-run lead over No. 6 UCLA with back-to-back HR ??#B1GSoftball on BTN ?? pic.twitter.com/CP3LnnEczm
— Big Ten Softball (@B1Gsoftball) May 2, 2025
In the third inning, Northwestern opened up its lead with another series of clutch two-out hits, headlined by a bases-clearing triple from Lindsey to extend the lead to 6-0. Lindsey finished the game 1-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored, her most RBI in a game since March 24, 2024.
Kelsey Nader also turned in her team-leading 15th multi-hit performance of the season, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Northwestern has now won eight of its last nine games dating back to April 16, earning run-rule victories in four of those wins. The Wildcats and Bruins will continue their three-game set on Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 2 pm CT on Big Ten Network.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Boyd, Lauren (13-4)
L: Tinsley, Taylor (11-4)
Batting:
3B: Lindsey, Ayana 1
HR: Nieto, Grace 1 ; Garden, Avery 1
RBI: Nieto, Grace 1 ; Nader, Kelsey 1 ; Lindsey, Ayana 3 ; Garden, Avery 3
SF: Nader, Kelsey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nieto, Grace 1 ; Avvisato, Kaylie 1 ; Nader, Kelsey 1 ; Donahey, Bridget 1 ; Sciborski, Lauren 1 ; Lindsey, Ayana 2 ; Garden, Avery 1
SB: Avvisato, Kaylie 1
Batting:
2B: Terry, Kaitlyn 1
SH: Clements, Jessica 1
Base Running:
HBP: Slimp, Rylee 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
1
H
3
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
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
