Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, May 1
Rosemont, Ill.
1 pm CT
Northwestern
vs
Minnesota
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
'Cats Wrap Up Regular Season with Senior Weekend vs. Minnesota
4/30/2026 8:24:00 PM | Softball
ROSEMONT, Ill. – Northwestern wraps up the 2026 regular season this weekend, hosting Minnesota for a three-game set at The Ballpark at Rosemont that includes Senior Day on Saturday.
Game one between the Wildcats and Gophers is scheduled for 1 pm CT on Friday, followed by a 7 pm start on Saturday with Senior Day festivities taking place pregame. The series wraps up with a 5 pm CT start on Sunday. All three games will be available to stream live on B1G+.
Northwestern enters this weekend's series with a 27-19 record on the season and a 14-7 mark in Big Ten play, currently sitting tied with Indiana for fifth in the conference standings. Minnesota enters with a 15-33 record overall and a 6-15 mark in Big Ten play. The two teams have matched up 133 times in their history, with the Wildcats holding a one-game edge at 67-66. The two teams last met in 2025, as Northwestern earned a three-game sweep against the Gophers in Minneapolis.
Last time out, the 'Cats extended their winning streak to 10 games with a three-game sweep at Purdue. During the streak Northwestern has outscored opponents 89-31, with Wildcat hitters batting .360 (98-for-272) with 16 home runs and 77 RBI, while the pitching staff has held opponents to a .197 average (46-for-234) with just two home runs and 27 RBI.
Marina Mason was excellent for Northwestern over the Purdue series, tossing complete games in both of her appearances, going 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA (6 ER/14.0 IP) while limiting Purdue hitters to a .222 batting average. Mason's 2.29 ERA this season leads all Big Ten first-years, and ranks best in the Nation among power conference first-years with at least 130 innings pitched. Mason picked up her sixth complete-game shutout of the season in a 1-0 win on Sunday, a mark that is tied for first among all first-years nationally. During Northwestern's 10-game winning streak, Mason is 8-0 and has thrown 40.2 innings while posting a 1.89 ERA (11 ER/40.2 IP) and limiting opposing batters to a .171 average.
Emma Raye is hitting .515 (17-for-33) with 19 RBI and a 1.091 slugging percentage during the Wildcats' winning streak. After a three-run go-ahead homer on Friday, Raye now sits at 54 RBI on the season, passing Jordyn Rudd (52 in 2022) for the most RBI in a single season by a Northwestern catcher and moving up to 10th nationally among catchers this season. Raye's 1.17 RBI per game this season ranks first among all Big Ten catchers, and eighth among all catchers nationally.
Kaylie Avvisato extended her reached base streak to a career-high 24 consecutive games on Sunday. During that streak, she is hitting .432 (35-for-81) with 29 RBI and 35 runs scored. On the season Avvisato is batting .359 (52-for-145), which ranks second on the team, trailing only Raye (.391). Avvisato is leading Northwestern in doubles (12), triples (4), and mutli-RBI games (14) this season.
Bridget Donahey went 3-for-4 in Saturday's win with two home runs, a double, and four RBI, marking her fourth multi-homer game of the season. Her 10 total bases were tied for the second-most in single-game program history, trailing only Angela Zedak (13 at Illinois; April 9, 2024). The senior shortstop has already set career highs this season in hits (41), RBI (32) and home runs (11).
Following this weekend's games, Northwestern travels to College Park, Maryland for the Big Ten Tournament, featuring the top 12 teams in the standings from May 6-9 at Maryland Softball Stadium.
Northwestern will honor its five Seniors on Saturday, highlighting a class that has so far seen two Big Ten titles (2023, 2024), a Big Ten Tournament victory (2023), three postseason appearances (2023-2025), and a Super Regional appearance (2023). Additionally, graduate student Grace Nieto started for the 2022 Northwestern team that reached the Women's College World Series.
More on the 2026 Senior Class:
Bridget Donahey
Abby Harvey
Kelsey Nader
Grace Nieto
Kansas Robinson
Game one between the Wildcats and Gophers is scheduled for 1 pm CT on Friday, followed by a 7 pm start on Saturday with Senior Day festivities taking place pregame. The series wraps up with a 5 pm CT start on Sunday. All three games will be available to stream live on B1G+.
Northwestern enters this weekend's series with a 27-19 record on the season and a 14-7 mark in Big Ten play, currently sitting tied with Indiana for fifth in the conference standings. Minnesota enters with a 15-33 record overall and a 6-15 mark in Big Ten play. The two teams have matched up 133 times in their history, with the Wildcats holding a one-game edge at 67-66. The two teams last met in 2025, as Northwestern earned a three-game sweep against the Gophers in Minneapolis.
Last time out, the 'Cats extended their winning streak to 10 games with a three-game sweep at Purdue. During the streak Northwestern has outscored opponents 89-31, with Wildcat hitters batting .360 (98-for-272) with 16 home runs and 77 RBI, while the pitching staff has held opponents to a .197 average (46-for-234) with just two home runs and 27 RBI.
Marina Mason was excellent for Northwestern over the Purdue series, tossing complete games in both of her appearances, going 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA (6 ER/14.0 IP) while limiting Purdue hitters to a .222 batting average. Mason's 2.29 ERA this season leads all Big Ten first-years, and ranks best in the Nation among power conference first-years with at least 130 innings pitched. Mason picked up her sixth complete-game shutout of the season in a 1-0 win on Sunday, a mark that is tied for first among all first-years nationally. During Northwestern's 10-game winning streak, Mason is 8-0 and has thrown 40.2 innings while posting a 1.89 ERA (11 ER/40.2 IP) and limiting opposing batters to a .171 average.
Emma Raye is hitting .515 (17-for-33) with 19 RBI and a 1.091 slugging percentage during the Wildcats' winning streak. After a three-run go-ahead homer on Friday, Raye now sits at 54 RBI on the season, passing Jordyn Rudd (52 in 2022) for the most RBI in a single season by a Northwestern catcher and moving up to 10th nationally among catchers this season. Raye's 1.17 RBI per game this season ranks first among all Big Ten catchers, and eighth among all catchers nationally.
Kaylie Avvisato extended her reached base streak to a career-high 24 consecutive games on Sunday. During that streak, she is hitting .432 (35-for-81) with 29 RBI and 35 runs scored. On the season Avvisato is batting .359 (52-for-145), which ranks second on the team, trailing only Raye (.391). Avvisato is leading Northwestern in doubles (12), triples (4), and mutli-RBI games (14) this season.
Bridget Donahey went 3-for-4 in Saturday's win with two home runs, a double, and four RBI, marking her fourth multi-homer game of the season. Her 10 total bases were tied for the second-most in single-game program history, trailing only Angela Zedak (13 at Illinois; April 9, 2024). The senior shortstop has already set career highs this season in hits (41), RBI (32) and home runs (11).
Following this weekend's games, Northwestern travels to College Park, Maryland for the Big Ten Tournament, featuring the top 12 teams in the standings from May 6-9 at Maryland Softball Stadium.
Northwestern will honor its five Seniors on Saturday, highlighting a class that has so far seen two Big Ten titles (2023, 2024), a Big Ten Tournament victory (2023), three postseason appearances (2023-2025), and a Super Regional appearance (2023). Additionally, graduate student Grace Nieto started for the 2022 Northwestern team that reached the Women's College World Series.
More on the 2026 Senior Class:
Bridget Donahey
- Has 28 home runs, 106 hits, and 152 starts in her career
- Holds a .425 career on-base percentage, tied for 11th in program history
- Holds a career-high .336 average and 32 RBI in her senior season
Abby Harvey
- Has been a valuable contributor for Northwestern after a four-year career at Indiana Wesleyan
- At Indiana Wesleyan, batted .366 and drove in 109 runs in 434 at-bats
- Received NFCA All-American Second Team and All-Crossroads League First Team honors in 2025
Kelsey Nader
- Has played in 198 games, holding a .476 SLG% and .419 OB% in 574 at-bats
- Holds a .338 career average, tied for 11th in program history
- Received First Team All-Big Ten and NFCA All-American honors in 2024
Grace Nieto
- Started in 193 games, averaging .309 at the plate in 517 career at-bats
- Has walked 39 times this season, ninth-most in a single season in program history
- Notched multiple career-highs this season, with a .458 SLG% and .474 OB%
- 2022 Big Ten All-Freshman Team honoree and starter in the College World Series
Kansas Robinson
- Has played in 198 games, posting 165 hits and 38 home runs in 556 at-bats
- Holds a .585 slugging percentage, 10th-best in program history
- Received First Team All-Big Ten and All-American honors in 2024.
Players Mentioned
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IF
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C/OF
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OF
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IF
/ SoftballSoftball - Marina Mason's Complete Game Shutout Fuels a 1-0 Series Sweeping Win at Purdue - 4/26/26
Sunday, April 26
Softball - Wildcats Score 10 Unanswered, Lock Up Series Win with 11-4 Victory at Purdue (4/25/26)
Saturday, April 25
Softball - 'Cats Erase 6-0 Deficit, Take Down Purdue Behind Emma Raye 7th Inning Home Run (4/24/26)
Saturday, April 25
Softball - 'Cats Earn Series Sweep, Earn 8-0 Run-Rule Win Over Michigan State (4/19/20)
Monday, April 20
