Northwestern University Athletics
Thursday, February 12
Clearwater, Fla.
5 pm CT
Northwestern
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#1 Texas Tech
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Texas Tech
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Wildcats Wrap Up Weekend at ESPN Clearwater Invitational
2/15/2026 7:07:00 PM | Softball
CLEARWATER, Fla. – Playing against some of the nation's top teams at the ESPN Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational, Northwestern wrapped up a four-day stay at college softball's premier non-conference tournament on Sunday, turning in a series of competitive results while ultimately coming away with one win over SEC foe, Missouri.
Northwestern opened the weekend on Thursday night with a 5-0 setback to No. 1 Texas Tech, threatening early by loading the bases in the second inning before the Red Raiders turned to back-to-back National Pitcher of the Year Nijaree Canady, who limited the offense to two hits across 5.0 innings. Unearned runs proved costly, as just two of Texas Tech's five runs were earned. On Friday, the Wildcats dropped a 6-4 decision to UCF. After the Knights jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the second inning, the 'Cats clawed back with runs in both the third and fourth innings to cut into the deficit but ultimately were unable to complete the rally.
Saturday featured a split against a pair of SEC opponents, as Northwestern blanked Missouri, 3-0, behind a nine-strikeout, complete game shutout performance from Marina Mason before falling to No. 17 Georgia, 8-3. The Wildcats closed the weekend on Sunday with a narrow 6-5 loss to No. 8 Texas A&M, jumping out to a five-run lead in the third inning before the Aggies answered with runs in four consecutive frames.
Three of Northwestern's four losses came against Top-20 opponents that are poised to stay atop the rankings this coming week, as No. 1 Texas Tech (11-1) and No. 17 Georgia (9-2) each posted 5-1 records in Clearwater, while No. 8 Texas A&M (7-3) added a 3-2 weekend. UCF (9-3) went 3-2 at the invitational, rounding out a slate that featured four opponents with a combined 36-9 record through the opening two weeks of the season.
Kelsey Nader led the Wildcats at the plate, hitting .412 (7-for-17) in five games with three RBI and three runs scored. Nader recorded hits in each of Northwestern's last four games of the weekend, posting multi-hit efforts against UCF, Georgia and Texas A&M. Also turning in a solid effort for a second-straight week was Grace Nieto, who went 6-for-18 on the weekend and posted hits in four of the 'Cats' five games in Clearwater. Hitting in the top two spots of the Wildcats' lineup, Nieto (.400) and Nader (.355) rank first and second on the team, respectively, in batting average through two weekends.
Emma Raye reached base in all five games over the weekend for the Wildcats, extending her reached base streak to 10 games to open the 2026 season, the longest streak of her career. The junior catcher went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored on Friday vs. UCF, and added an RBI-single in Saturday's win over Missouri. Raye currently leads all Northwestern hitters with a .640 slugging percentage through two weekends.
In the middle of the Wildcats' lineup, Kansas Robinson led the team this weekend with four RBI, driving in runs in three different games. Kaylie Avvisato hit the lone home run of the weekend for Northwestern in Sunday's matchup with Texas A&M, hitting a three-run shot to center field for her second homer of the season. Avvisato currently leads the team with 10 RBI through 10 games.
In the circle, all five of the Wildcats' pitchers saw action as each threw at least 4.0 innings. Mason led the way with 9.1 innings and 13 strikeouts, headlined by her complete game shutout on Saturday which marked the first shutout by a Wildcat pitcher since Lauren Boyd did so against Kentucky in the first game of the NCAA Tournament on May 16, 2025. On Sunday, the Wildcats turned to Mason holding a one-run lead in the fifth inning with the tying run in scoring position. Mason was able to escape the jam in the fifth, but a series of defensive miscues in the sixth inning proved costly as the Aggies plated two runs to take the lead.
Signe Dohse appeared in four games over the weekend, pitching 8.1 innings while allowing just four hits–good for a team-low .160 opposing batting average. Dohse only allowed three runs on the weekend, all of which were unearned. Against UCF on Friday, Dohse pitched 3.0 innings and did not allow a hit in 10 batters faced.
Northwestern is back in action next weekend as the Wildcats travel to Fayetteville, Arkansas for five games in three days at the University of Arkansas. The 'Cats will face off against No. 11 Arkansas three times on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and also play a pair of matchups against Southeast Missouri State on Friday and Saturday.
Northwestern opened the weekend on Thursday night with a 5-0 setback to No. 1 Texas Tech, threatening early by loading the bases in the second inning before the Red Raiders turned to back-to-back National Pitcher of the Year Nijaree Canady, who limited the offense to two hits across 5.0 innings. Unearned runs proved costly, as just two of Texas Tech's five runs were earned. On Friday, the Wildcats dropped a 6-4 decision to UCF. After the Knights jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the second inning, the 'Cats clawed back with runs in both the third and fourth innings to cut into the deficit but ultimately were unable to complete the rally.
Saturday featured a split against a pair of SEC opponents, as Northwestern blanked Missouri, 3-0, behind a nine-strikeout, complete game shutout performance from Marina Mason before falling to No. 17 Georgia, 8-3. The Wildcats closed the weekend on Sunday with a narrow 6-5 loss to No. 8 Texas A&M, jumping out to a five-run lead in the third inning before the Aggies answered with runs in four consecutive frames.
Three of Northwestern's four losses came against Top-20 opponents that are poised to stay atop the rankings this coming week, as No. 1 Texas Tech (11-1) and No. 17 Georgia (9-2) each posted 5-1 records in Clearwater, while No. 8 Texas A&M (7-3) added a 3-2 weekend. UCF (9-3) went 3-2 at the invitational, rounding out a slate that featured four opponents with a combined 36-9 record through the opening two weeks of the season.
Kelsey Nader led the Wildcats at the plate, hitting .412 (7-for-17) in five games with three RBI and three runs scored. Nader recorded hits in each of Northwestern's last four games of the weekend, posting multi-hit efforts against UCF, Georgia and Texas A&M. Also turning in a solid effort for a second-straight week was Grace Nieto, who went 6-for-18 on the weekend and posted hits in four of the 'Cats' five games in Clearwater. Hitting in the top two spots of the Wildcats' lineup, Nieto (.400) and Nader (.355) rank first and second on the team, respectively, in batting average through two weekends.
Emma Raye reached base in all five games over the weekend for the Wildcats, extending her reached base streak to 10 games to open the 2026 season, the longest streak of her career. The junior catcher went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored on Friday vs. UCF, and added an RBI-single in Saturday's win over Missouri. Raye currently leads all Northwestern hitters with a .640 slugging percentage through two weekends.
.@EmmaRaye17 caught that!? ???? pic.twitter.com/XIHydQ5PSc
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) February 13, 2026
In the middle of the Wildcats' lineup, Kansas Robinson led the team this weekend with four RBI, driving in runs in three different games. Kaylie Avvisato hit the lone home run of the weekend for Northwestern in Sunday's matchup with Texas A&M, hitting a three-run shot to center field for her second homer of the season. Avvisato currently leads the team with 10 RBI through 10 games.
KAYLIE AVVISATO.
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) February 15, 2026
THREE. RUN. BOMB.
T3 | NU 5, Texas A&M 0 pic.twitter.com/0S2FiKv2D0
In the circle, all five of the Wildcats' pitchers saw action as each threw at least 4.0 innings. Mason led the way with 9.1 innings and 13 strikeouts, headlined by her complete game shutout on Saturday which marked the first shutout by a Wildcat pitcher since Lauren Boyd did so against Kentucky in the first game of the NCAA Tournament on May 16, 2025. On Sunday, the Wildcats turned to Mason holding a one-run lead in the fifth inning with the tying run in scoring position. Mason was able to escape the jam in the fifth, but a series of defensive miscues in the sixth inning proved costly as the Aggies plated two runs to take the lead.
Signe Dohse appeared in four games over the weekend, pitching 8.1 innings while allowing just four hits–good for a team-low .160 opposing batting average. Dohse only allowed three runs on the weekend, all of which were unearned. Against UCF on Friday, Dohse pitched 3.0 innings and did not allow a hit in 10 batters faced.
Northwestern is back in action next weekend as the Wildcats travel to Fayetteville, Arkansas for five games in three days at the University of Arkansas. The 'Cats will face off against No. 11 Arkansas three times on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and also play a pair of matchups against Southeast Missouri State on Friday and Saturday.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: NiJaree Canady (3-0)
L: Blea, Emma (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Mihyia Davis 1 ; Lauren Allred 2 ; Lagi Quiroga 1
RBI: Mihyia Davis 2 ; Lauren Allred 1 ; Lagi Quiroga 2
SH: Hailey Toney 1
SF: Lagi Quiroga 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Alana Johnson 1 ; Logan Halleman 2 ; Lauren Allred 2
HBP: Lauren Allred 1
Base Running:
SB: Medina, Tru 1
HBP: Medina, Tru 1
Game Leaders
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RBI
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3
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1
RBI
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3
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1
RBI
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3
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RBI
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Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
P
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P/U
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P
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OF
/ Softball
IF
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IF
/ SoftballSoftball - Marina Mason Tosses Complete Game Shutout, 'Cats Blank Missouri in Clearwater (2/14/26)
Saturday, February 14
She Caught That!? 🤯
Friday, February 13
Softball - 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
