Like the Ugly Duckling, the Northwestern softball team just needed some time to realize its full potential.

NU (18-13-1) headed down the red line to DePaul’s Wish Field on Wednesday, splitting a doubleheader against the No. 17 team in the nation.

The Wildcats built upon an offensive effort that included three school record-setting performances, rallying to a 6-1 win against the Blue Demons (28-8) in the nightcap. The victory again proved NU’s ability to compete with top-tier opponents.

“I know they’re capable of doing it,” NU coach Kate Drohan said. “I really enjoy watching them when they play with emotion.”

Unfortunately for NU, its developmental period meant an eight-run ruling to the Blue Demons in Game 1. The Cats’ five inning, 9-1 loss was bad from the beginning.

“The first inning was the ugliest inning of softball I’ve ever seen at Northwestern,” Drohan said.

DePaul jumped on Cats ace Lauren Schwendimann for nine runs in the first two innings. The junior didn’t have her best stuff, but the effort wasn’t helped by the fact that NU committed its fifth error of the game before recording five outs. The substandard defense led to six unearned runs, leaving Schwendimann (12-4) to suffer her second straight loss.

“I don’t think they understood the difference between just going out on the field and playing and going out and competing,” Drohan said.

NU’s offense waited until Game 2 to show up, as well. DePaul hurler Lindsay Chouinard held the Cats to just two hits in her five innings of work, with NU’s lone run coming on a Carri Leto double, knocking in right fielder Brett Nakabayashi in the third inning.

“We came out so flat in the first game,” senior Gretchen Barnes said. “Everyone was shocked because we had played so horribly, but there was only one way to go from there, and that was up.”

That’s exactly where the Cats went.

“We showed up a little intimidated,” Drohan said. “It was just a matter of settling in and getting after it.”

NU finally produced some offense, lighting up the scoreboard in five of the first six innings.

Left fielder Erin Jancic added two more school records to her career RBI record in the fourth inning.

The senior notched her 35th career double, and then crossed home plate for the 106th time.

“Erin is certainly one of the best players we’ve ever had here at Northwestern,” Drohan said. “It was really exciting for the girls to get to leave their names on the record books.”

Not to be overshadowed, Barnes continued Jancic’s record-breaking trend in the very next inning, belting her 19th career homer in the fifth inning to take the title of top NU slugger.

“That’s fun, I love home runs,” Drohan said. “I’ve enjoyed watching Gretchen hit all her home runs. I think it’s a big accomplishment for her.”

Barnes’ shot was preceded by a reprimand from Drohan because the senior was talking with the DePaul catcher, an old friend.

“I joked with coach that it was OK, that it relaxes me,” Barnes said. “Then I hit the first pitch out. After that, coach said I can talk to the catcher anytime.”

The offensive onslaught was accompanied by a solid pitching performance from junior Brie Brown, who scattered five hits in her five innings of work, holding the Blue Demons to one run en route to her sixth win of the season.

“Brie did a great job of shutting them down,” Drohan said.

Brown was followed in relief by Stephanie Elliott, who made her first trip to the circle this year.

In her first game back from injury, the freshman allowed only one hit working two scoreless innings.

“The combo of (Elliott) and Brie was perfect,” Drohan said. “They complement each other very well.”

The win snapped the Cats’ four-game losing streak and provided them with a much-needed confidence boost as they head into a tough weekend against Michigan State and No. 12 Michigan.

“We’re pretty stoked to come out and beat our Chicago rival,” Barnes said. “We all left the field feeling good going into the Michigan weekend.”

That feeling is exactly what Drohan said the Cats need in order to find success against their upcoming opponents.

“They need to know it’s in their control,” Drohan said. “It’s just a matter of showing up for game time.”