Northwestern (29-20, 16-8 B1G) closed out its regular season with its fourth straight series win, besting Minnesota (16-35, 7-17 B1G) in two games out of three at The Ballpark at Rosemont.
After a dominant 5-1 Friday victory, the ‘Cats had their 11 game win streak snapped on Saturday in a 2-3 loss, but rebounded on Sunday to take the series. The Saturday loss marked Northwestern’s first defeat in Big Ten conference play since April 5 against Michigan, with the ‘Cats finishing the season 11-1 against Big Ten opponents
to secure the No. 6 seed in the Big Ten Tournament.
For a second-consecutive series, it was first-year ace Marina Mason who was the ‘Cats’ hero, delivering two complete games in each of Northwestern’s victories. On Sunday, Mason had one of her best games of the season, pitching a one-hit shutout and a career-high 12 strikeouts.
At the plate, Emma Raye led the way, going 4-for-9 with three RBI, moving to seventh on Northwestern’s all-time RBI chart. Meanwhile, Kaylie Avvisato added a hit in each game of the series, moving her hitting streak to 7 and her career-high reached base streak to 27.
Game 1: Northwestern 5, Minnesota 1
A team effort at the plate led the ‘Cats to victory on Friday afternoon, with seven different Wildcats recording a hit.
Grace Nieto got things started in the first, taking a hit-by-pitch and rounding the bases off on a two-out RBI-infield single from Kansas Robinson. Nieto and Robinson each secured two hits in the game, scoring three of the ‘Cats’ five runs.
Minnesota scored its lone run in the game in the third inning off the bat of Jessa Snippes, who’s RBI single cut Northwestern’s early inning lead to 2-1 and advanced another runner to third base. However, Mason got out of the jam and held Minnesota scoreless the rest of the way.
Mason surrendered just three hits and one run in seven innings in the circle, tossing her fifth complete game in her last ten outings. However, it was not without the help of some amazing glove-work from Izzy Cunnea in left field. In the sixth inning, with runners on first and second for the Golden Gophers, Cunnea’s diving grab saved a run.
Later, another spectacular diving catch sealed the game in the top of the seventh.
Game 2: Minnesota 3, Northwestern 2
Junior pitcher Riley Grudzielanek struggled in the circle on Saturday for the ‘Cats, loading the bases with three consecutive walks to start the game. Signe Dohse replaced her and allowed just two hits in seven innings, but was unable to survive the first inning jam, surrendering three runs on a Snippes walk, Kylinn Stangl single and Brooklyn Jones sac-fly.
In the end, Minnesota’s three-run first inning was too much for the ‘Cats to overcome. Sydney Schwartz threw a complete game for the Golden Gophers, holding Northwestern to just four hits and six total baserunners. The ‘Cats gave the Gophers a challenge, with a Raye home-run in the sixth bringing the score to 3-2, but couldn’t find a way to bring another run home in the bottom of the seventh, falling for the first time since April 8 in its midweek matchup against DePaul.
Game 3: Northwestern 6, Minnesota 0
In the final game of the series, Mason held Minnesota scoreless, notching her Big Ten leading seventh shutout of the season to guide the ‘Cats to victory in their regular season finale. Mason was one hit shy of a no-hitter in her 12 strikeout performance, setting a new career high. Mason finished the season with a conference best .176 opponent batting average and a team-high 18 wins.
Through five innings, however, Natalie Susa was able to keep pace with Mason’s spectacular pitching. Susa held the ‘Cats scoreless through the fifth, but finally cracked in the sixth, when the Wildcats were able to plate six runs.
Each of Northwestern’s runs came with two outs, as an Avvisato single up the middle started the ‘Cats’ scoring frenzy, as the first of seven straight Wildcat batters to reach base during the two-out rally. Robinson, Kelsey Nader and Cunnea added RBIs in the inning, and NU ran away with the 6-0 victory.
With its hot play to end the season, Northwestern earned the No. 6 seed in the Big Ten Tournament. The ‘Cats will face No. 11-seed Penn State on May 6 at 6:00 p.m. CT at Maryland Softball Stadium, with a quarterfinal matchup against No. 3-seeded UCLA hanging in the balance. The tournament will be broadcasted on Big Ten Network.
