Northwestern softball started its season with a 3-2 record at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Arizona.

The Wildcats began the tournament with a 9-1 run-rule win over Toledo (0-5, 0-0 MAC) on Friday. 

Junior pitcher Riley Grudzielanek gave up a solo home run in the top of the first, but she cruised for the rest of the game, surrendering only one more hit in the contest.

Graduate student infielder Grace Nieto led off the ’Cats’ half of the first inning with a solo homer. Then, with the game still tied in the third, sophomore infielder Kaylie Avvisato hit a three-run bomb to give NU a 4-1 lead.

With the ’Cats up 7-1 in the fifth, senior infielder Bridget Donahey, an Arizona native, hit an RBI single to give NU a walk-off run-rule win.

Later that day, the ’Cats were back in action for the first of two games against Texas State (3-2, 0-0 Sun Belt), and they lost a tight 4-3 contest. 

Down 2-1 in the top of the sixth, junior catcher Emma Raye hit a solo shot to tie it up. An RBI single for Texas State in the bottom of the inning put the Bobcats back in front by one.

With NU needing to score in the seventh, freshman infielder Tru Medina hit a one-out solo homer to tie the game. However, at the bottom of the inning, Texas State hit a walk-off home run on only the second pitch they saw. 

On Saturday, the ’Cats faced Texas State again, and this time, they cruised to a 7-1 win. 

NU jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second inning after Nieto ripped a bases-loaded double, and a throwing error allowed all three runners to score.

Senior infielder Kansas Robinson added a solo home run in the third, then Nieto drove in two more in the fourth with a single. 

Redshirt sophomore pitcher Signe Dohse pitched a complete game for the ’Cats without surrendering any earned runs.

The team had less success against hosts Arizona State (4-1, 0-0 Big 12), losing 8-0 by run rule.

NU only trailed 1-0 going into the fifth, but the Sun Devils hit a two-run homer to get some breathing room. Arizona State added five runs in the sixth to close it out, with another two-run homer being the final nail in the coffin.

NU finished the weekend with a 14-5 run-rule win over Memphis (2-3, 0-0 American). 

The team raced out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first and never looked back. Freshman outfielder Kate Renschen led the team with two home runs and five RBI. 

The ’Cats led 14-1 going into the bottom of the fifth, and four Memphis runs were not enough to stop the ’Cats from winning early.

NU will return to action Thursday, opening a five-game slate at the Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational in Clearwater, Florida, with a game against No. 1 Texas Tech. 

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