Three days removed from a 4-3 loss to Indiana in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals, Northwestern awaited its NCAA tournament fate during Sunday’s selection show.
After securing first-round hosting rights two years in a row, the Wildcats (33-11, 19-3 Big Ten) received an at-large bid and will head to Austin, Texas, for this year’s opening round alongside No. 1 Texas, Siena, and Saint Francis (Penn.).
TICKET PUNCHED 🎟️
We’re headed to Austin!#RoadToWCWS | #BeRemarkable pic.twitter.com/e6QUggRl5P
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) May 12, 2024
This marks the program’s sixth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance — and its 17th in coach Kate Drohan’s 22-season tenure.
NU will look to build upon its postseason success of the last two seasons with seven new starters on this year’s squad. Following a College World Series trip in 2022, Drohan’s squad advanced to the Super Regionals before falling to Alabama 3-2 in the series’ third game last year.
NU will return to the field on Friday at 5:30 p.m. CDT against Saint Francis. All four teams in the regional will compete Friday and Saturday in a double elimination-style competition. The top-two teams will play Sunday, and the winner will return to Austin for Super Regionals.
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—Softball: No. 23 Northwestern drops Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal to Indiana
— Softball: No. 23 Northwestern collects eight Big Ten honors, Drohan named Coach of the Year
