Wildcats Split Friday Doubleheader in Durham

Friday, February 27

Durham, NC

10 am CT

Northwestern

6-10

Boston U

7-9

Boston U

Northwestern

Photo by: Andy Mead/Northwestern Athletics

Wildcats Split Friday Doubleheader in Durham

2/27/2026 7:20:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

DURHAM, NC – Northwestern split a doubleheader on Friday to open its stay at the Duke Invitational. The Wildcats dropped the first game of the afternoon to Boston U, 6-4, before bouncing back with a 11-1 non-conference win over Ohio State in the nightcap.

Marina Mason earned the win in the circle for the Wildcats in game two, tossing a complete game while striking out eight. After allowing a first inning home run, Mason proceeded to fire 6.2 scoreless innings, retiring 20 of the last 24 batters she faced–including the last nine batters of the game–en route to her third win on the year. Mason now has a team-high 34 strikeouts on the season, to go along with a team-leading 36.0 innings pitched.

In game one, the Wildcats found themselves in an early deficit after Boston put up six runs in the top of the second inning. The Wildcats clawed their way back with a four spot in the bottom of the sixth inning, but were unable to complete the comeback.

Emma Blea turned in an excellent relief outing against the Terriers, tossing 5.1 innings while allow just one hit in 19 batters faced. It marked the longest outing of Blea's career.

In the second game, Ohio State jumped out to an early lead with a first-inning solo homer, but Northwestern responded with four runs in the top of the third inning to grab control. Kansas Robinson started the scoring with an infield single that drove in Kelsey Nader from second base.

The very next at-bat, Tru Medina blasted a three-run home run to left-center to give the 'Cats a three-run advantage. It marked the second career homer for Medina, as well as a new career high in RBI.

Three-Run NUKE by Tru Medina ??

A no-doubter puts us in front in the third!

T3 | NU 4, OSU 1 pic.twitter.com/o5fJHeRMDs
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) February 27, 2026

Mason kept the Buckeyes scoreless to maintain the three-run advantage, and Northwestern broke the game open with a seven-spot in the top of the seventh inning. The first nine batters of the inning reached base to jumpstart the rally.

Kansas Robinson got the scoring started with a two-run blast to straightaway center field, the second long ball of the season for Robinson. Three batters later, Avery Garden cashed in with an RBI-single to drive in Medina. The next at-bat, Bridget Donahey executed a perfect squeeze play to score Grace Minarovic.

The Squeeze is On!

Bridget Donahey with the perfectly placed bunt brings in Grace Minarovic!

T7 | NU 8, OSU 1 pic.twitter.com/5rwUBwpjQe
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) February 28, 2026

Grace Nieto added an RBI-single, and Kate Dowden kept the hits coming with a two-RBI pinch hit single of her own to push the lead up to 10.

Northwestern wraps up its stay at the Duke Invitational with another doubleheader on Saturday. The Wildcats have a rematch slated with Boston U beginning at 9 am CT on ESPN+ before facing off against No. 20 Duke at 11:30 am CT on ACC Network Extra.