Five Northwestern batters recorded three hits in an emphatic 14-3 over Minnesota Sunday, punctuating a weekend sweep in its first Big Ten road series. With the win, the Wildcats (18-11, 7-0 Big Ten) are off to their best start of a conference campaign since their 2021 season.
With graduate student pitcher Lauren Boyd in the circle, NU kicked off its stint in Golden Gopher (13-21, 2-8 Big Ten) territory by blanking the hosts 2-0.
In a contest where both teams were locked in a stalemate for the opening six innings, coach Kate Drohan’s squad broke things open in the top of the seventh when sophomore infielder Grace Minarovic, freshman utility player Avery Garden and senior infielder Grace Nieto all notched 2-out hits to plate the game’s only two runs.
Boyd recorded 10 strikeouts and conceded just three hits in NU’s weekend-opening victory.
The series’ second matchup took place immediately after, as the schedule shifted to a Friday doubleheader to accommodate potentially inclement weather. The ’Cats earned their second win of the day.
Drohan’s group carried their winning momentum into its next game, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning after junior outfielder Kelsey Nader scored on junior infielder Kansas Robinson’s double and freshman outfielder Kaylie Avvisato scored on a sacrifice fly.
The Golden Gophers responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame before both offenses went silent for the subsequent three innings.
With the score knotted at two runs apiece with two outs and no runners on the basepaths, Garden took matters into her own hands. Her fifth-inning solo home run was all the ’Cats needed to secure an eventual 3-2 victory.
Sophomore pitcher Riley Grudzielanek earned the complete-game win.
NU trounced Minnesota in run-rule fashion to close out the weekend and solidify its sweep.
Drohan’s group got on top early, plating eight runs on 10 hits before the hosts got on the board.
Nader led all NU batters with four hits and became the third NU player to record a four-hit game this season.
Sophomore pitcher Renae Cunningham and redshirt freshman pitcher Signe Dohse split time in the circle and conceded just four hits and three walks in the combined effort.
With the series sweep over Minnesota, NU is the only team in the Big Ten to remain undefeated against conference opponents.
Email: audreypachuta2027@u.northwestern.edu
Related Stories:
— Softball: Northwestern strides past Big Ten foes in Oklahoma, records 4 wins
— Softball: Northwestern bounces back from weekend-opening loss, wins 3 straight
— Softball: Northwestern records its second-straight losing weekend at Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic
