Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, March 13
Highland Heights, KY
10:30 am CT
Northwestern
9-14
11
vs
2
Detroit Mercy
6-15
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Northwestern
4
4
3
0
0
11
9
1
Detroit Mercy
0
2
0
0
0
2
2
5
Wildcats Sweep Four-Game Weekend Set in Kentucky
3/14/2026 6:05:00 PM | Softball
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northwestern swept a four-game weekend set at Northern Kentucky in emphatic fashion, winning three games in run-rule fashion while outscoring its opponents 45-8 over four games.
Eight different Wildcats homered throughout the weekend as Emma Raye led the way, going 6-for-10 with 15 RBI, three homers, a triple, five runs scored and a 1.700 slugging percentage. Raye posted three separate multi-hit games and, in Friday's win over Northern Kentucky, finished with a career-high seven RBI–one shy of the program's single-game RBI record.
The Wildcats opened the weekend with an 11-2 run-rule victory over Detroit Mercy on Friday. The Wildcat offense wasted no time getting started, posting four runs in each of the first and second innings, followed by three runs in the third inning to build up their lead.
In the second game on Friday, Northwestern kept its foot on the gas as the 'Cats scored a season-high 16 runs en route to their second five-inning victory of the afternoon, taking down the hosts Northern Kentucky, 16-1. Raye gave NU an early lead with a sacrifice fly in the first inning, and Northwestern added on with six runs in the third inning, five in the fourth and four in the fifth inning to break the game open.
Northwestern earned its second win of the weekend over Detroit Mercy in a Saturday morning contest. After the Titans jumped in front with a three-run homer in the third inning, the Wildcats rallied with eight unanswered runs–including a five spot in the bottom of the sixth inning–to lock up an 8-3 victory.
In the weekend finale against Northern Iowa, the 'Cats scored nine runs over the final two innings, capped off by a six spot in the bottom of the sixth inning, to secure their third run-rule victory of the weekend, taking down the Panthers, 10-2, in six innings.
Raye now leads the team with a .357 batting average, 26 RBI, a .447 on-base percentage, and a .714 slugging percentage on the season. Her 26 RBI have already surpassed her total from 2025, and are just six shy of her total as a rookie in 2024. In her 7-RBI performance against Northern Kentucky, Raye also posted her first-ever multi-homer game–recording three-run homers in both the third and fourth innings.
Kaylie Avvisato went 6-for-12 over the weekend, recording a hit in every game while scoring seven runs, driving in five RBI, and posting a .600 on-base percentage. The sophomore hit a two-run homer in Friday's win over Northern Kentucky, one of five Wildcat long balls in the game. Avvisato is now hitting .303 on the season and ranks second on the team with 22 RBI.
Bridget Donahey recorded six RBI while posting a 1.111 slugging percentage and a .500 on-base percentage in her four starts over the weekend. In Friday's opener, Donahey hit two home runs and matched her career high with four RBI. It marked the second multi-homer game of the senior's career, having also done so at Purdue on April 19, 2024.
Grace Nieto led the team with nine runs scored and a .615 on-base percentage over the weekend, going 3-for-8 and drawing a team-leading five walks from the leadoff spot. In Saturday's finale against Northern Iowa, she also blasted a solo home run in the third inning, her second long ball of the year.
Avery Garden finished the weekend going 4-for-8 with four RBI and three runs scored. The sophomore is now hitting .360 (9-for-25) over the Wildcats' last three weekends. During Friday's win over Northern Kentucky, Garden hit a two-run homer in the third inning that was immediately followed by a solo home run by Isabel Cunnea the very next at-bat. The following game, Cunnea homered for a second game in a row, hitting a solo go-ahead home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the 'Cats a 4-3 lead over Detroit Mercy.
In the circle, four different Wildcats recorded wins as NU limited hitters to a .111 opposing batting average throughout the weekend. Riley Grudzielanek pitched a team-leading 9.1 innings over the weekend, earning the win on Friday over Northern Kentucky while tossing a complete game to improve to 4-2 on the season. Marina Mason tossed a complete game–her fourth of the season–in Saturday's finale against Northern Iowa, allowing just two runs in 6.0 innings while striking out six. Renae Cunningham made two relief appearances and allowed just one hit and no runs in 4.2 innings of work, earning the win on Saturday over Detroit Mercy. Signe Dohse picked up the win against the Titans on Friday, pitching 3.0 innings while allowing just two runs.
Next on the schedule, Northwestern resumes conference play with a three-game set downstate at Illinois from March 20-22.
Eight different Wildcats homered throughout the weekend as Emma Raye led the way, going 6-for-10 with 15 RBI, three homers, a triple, five runs scored and a 1.700 slugging percentage. Raye posted three separate multi-hit games and, in Friday's win over Northern Kentucky, finished with a career-high seven RBI–one shy of the program's single-game RBI record.
That's a Weekend SWEEP! ??#GoCats | #BeRemarkable pic.twitter.com/c1mmsckQst
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) March 14, 2026
The Wildcats opened the weekend with an 11-2 run-rule victory over Detroit Mercy on Friday. The Wildcat offense wasted no time getting started, posting four runs in each of the first and second innings, followed by three runs in the third inning to build up their lead.
In the second game on Friday, Northwestern kept its foot on the gas as the 'Cats scored a season-high 16 runs en route to their second five-inning victory of the afternoon, taking down the hosts Northern Kentucky, 16-1. Raye gave NU an early lead with a sacrifice fly in the first inning, and Northwestern added on with six runs in the third inning, five in the fourth and four in the fifth inning to break the game open.
Northwestern earned its second win of the weekend over Detroit Mercy in a Saturday morning contest. After the Titans jumped in front with a three-run homer in the third inning, the Wildcats rallied with eight unanswered runs–including a five spot in the bottom of the sixth inning–to lock up an 8-3 victory.
In the weekend finale against Northern Iowa, the 'Cats scored nine runs over the final two innings, capped off by a six spot in the bottom of the sixth inning, to secure their third run-rule victory of the weekend, taking down the Panthers, 10-2, in six innings.
Raye now leads the team with a .357 batting average, 26 RBI, a .447 on-base percentage, and a .714 slugging percentage on the season. Her 26 RBI have already surpassed her total from 2025, and are just six shy of her total as a rookie in 2024. In her 7-RBI performance against Northern Kentucky, Raye also posted her first-ever multi-homer game–recording three-run homers in both the third and fourth innings.
Video game numbers this weekend for @EmmaRaye17 ????
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) March 14, 2026
?? .600 avg/.571 OBP/1.700 SLG%
?? 3 HRs, 1 triple, 5 runs
?? 15 RBI#GoCats | #BeRemarkable pic.twitter.com/sEJbMmniR1
Kaylie Avvisato went 6-for-12 over the weekend, recording a hit in every game while scoring seven runs, driving in five RBI, and posting a .600 on-base percentage. The sophomore hit a two-run homer in Friday's win over Northern Kentucky, one of five Wildcat long balls in the game. Avvisato is now hitting .303 on the season and ranks second on the team with 22 RBI.
Bridget Donahey recorded six RBI while posting a 1.111 slugging percentage and a .500 on-base percentage in her four starts over the weekend. In Friday's opener, Donahey hit two home runs and matched her career high with four RBI. It marked the second multi-homer game of the senior's career, having also done so at Purdue on April 19, 2024.
Grace Nieto led the team with nine runs scored and a .615 on-base percentage over the weekend, going 3-for-8 and drawing a team-leading five walks from the leadoff spot. In Saturday's finale against Northern Iowa, she also blasted a solo home run in the third inning, her second long ball of the year.
Avery Garden finished the weekend going 4-for-8 with four RBI and three runs scored. The sophomore is now hitting .360 (9-for-25) over the Wildcats' last three weekends. During Friday's win over Northern Kentucky, Garden hit a two-run homer in the third inning that was immediately followed by a solo home run by Isabel Cunnea the very next at-bat. The following game, Cunnea homered for a second game in a row, hitting a solo go-ahead home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the 'Cats a 4-3 lead over Detroit Mercy.
Go-ahead blast scenes ???? @ICunnea pic.twitter.com/tqSqu0ZGBu
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) March 14, 2026
In the circle, four different Wildcats recorded wins as NU limited hitters to a .111 opposing batting average throughout the weekend. Riley Grudzielanek pitched a team-leading 9.1 innings over the weekend, earning the win on Friday over Northern Kentucky while tossing a complete game to improve to 4-2 on the season. Marina Mason tossed a complete game–her fourth of the season–in Saturday's finale against Northern Iowa, allowing just two runs in 6.0 innings while striking out six. Renae Cunningham made two relief appearances and allowed just one hit and no runs in 4.2 innings of work, earning the win on Saturday over Detroit Mercy. Signe Dohse picked up the win against the Titans on Friday, pitching 3.0 innings while allowing just two runs.
Next on the schedule, Northwestern resumes conference play with a three-game set downstate at Illinois from March 20-22.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Dohse, Signe (2-2)
L: Jaycee Reams (0-1)
Batting:
3B: Raye, Emma 1 ; Garden, Avery 1
HR: Donahey, Bridget 2
RBI: McCue, Teagan 2 ; Avvisato, Kaylie 1 ; Raye, Emma 3 ; Donahey, Bridget 4
SF: Raye, Emma 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nieto, Grace 2 ; McCue, Teagan 1 ; Avvisato, Kaylie 1 ; Raye, Emma 1 ; Robinson, Kansas 1 ; Donahey, Bridget 2 ; Garden, Avery 1 ; Cunnea, Isabel 1 ; Medina, Tru 1
SB: Avvisato, Kaylie 1 ; Garden, Avery 1
CS: Nader, Kelsey 1
HBP: Robinson, Kansas 1 ; Cunnea, Isabel 1
Batting:
HR: Wendy Ketola 1
RBI: Wendy Ketola 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Natalie Babcock 1 ; Wendy Ketola 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
4
AB
1
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P/U
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
P/IF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
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