Northwestern softball brought the brooms out in University Park, sweeping Penn State in a dominant weekend series.
The Wildcats (20-19, 8-7 B1G) extended their winning streak over the Nittany Lions to 19 games while securing their second straight road sweep against a Big Ten team. After dropping their previous two series in Rosemont, these victories serve as both a momentum builder and a confidence booster for Northwestern as they look to continue climbing the conference standings.
Game 1: Northwestern 8, Penn State 2
In each of the three
games, Northwestern unleashed an offensive avalanche and rode it to victory. In this outing, the scoring began in the top of the third inning when Kaylie Avvisato launched a three-run home run, driving in Tru Medina and Grace Nieto to give the ‘Cats an early 3-0 lead. From there, the lead only grew, as Big Ten Player of the Week Emma Raye showcased some excellent baserunning. After poking a single to left, Raye stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and stole home on a wild pitch. Isabel Cunnea knocked home Kelsey Nader with her own single up the middle, and NU left the frame with a 5-0 lead.
It took only one swing for the ‘Cats to turn this game into a rout, and it came from Raye in the following inning. With Nieto and Avvisato reaching on a single and error, Raye ripped a ball to dead center field that bounced over the top of the wall for the ‘Cats’ second three-run bomb of the game — one that made it 8-0 NU.
Northwestern’s pitching was stout, with the effort spearheaded by Marina Mason. She earned a win in the circle on 6.0 innings of two-hit ball while recording a career-high ten strikeouts. Her only runs allowed came off a solo shot and a wild pitch, two small blemishes on an otherwise impressive start for the freshman. Renae Cunningham ended the game in the seventh inning with a 1-2-3 inning.
Game 2: Northwestern 13, Penn State 4 (run-rule after five innings)
Northwestern’s hitters had a field day on Saturday, scoring double-digit runs and getting on the board in all five innings played. The bats were in sync from the start, with Nieto scoring on a passed ball and Bridget Donahey knocking in a single to put the ‘Cats up 2-0 in the first inning. Two more runs were tacked on in the following inning as the ‘Cats capitalized on defensive miscues to double their lead.
Penn State responded, however, with three runs in the bottom half of the inning by also taking advantage of Wildcat errors, including NU’s trouble finding the strike zone as evidenced by walking five Penn State batters in this frame alone. With the score now 4-3, NU’s offense quickly made sure this game wouldn’t be a tight contest. It added three runs in the subsequent inning, with Cunnea, Teagan McCue and Avvisato each notching RBI hits to drive home Wildcats consistently occupying the bases. NU kept building on its lead with two more runs in the fourth inning and four in the fifth, including two more RBIs from Cunnea and sustained success getting runners on base and cashing them home with timely hits and active baserunning. In the blink of an eye, a one-run lead became a nine-run lead.
Signe Dohse earned the win in the circle, pitching 2.1 innings of one-run ball despite issuing four walks. Emma Blea closed the contest with 1.1 clean innings, including shutting down the Nittany Lions’ last comeback bid by stranding the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth.
Game 3: Northwestern 17, Penn State 3 (run-rule after six innings)
Despite putting up a combined 21 runs in the previous contests, NU’s offense showed on Sunday just how much more it had left in the tank. Penn State struck first this time, scoring in the bottom of the first on an RBI double. But the Nittany Lions also left the inning with the bases loaded, and their offense didn’t threaten again until it was too late. Northwestern got on the board in the fourth as Raye mashed her second home run of the series, this one a two-run blast that flew over the scoreboard in left field. Kansas Robinson followed with a solo home run of her own to put NU up 3-1.
The ‘Cats added four more runs in the fifth inning, including an Avvisato solo home run, an RBI double from Nader and a two-run single by Cunnea to extend the Wildcat lead to 7-1. The Nittany Lions tacked on a run in the bottom half, but what followed was the climax of Northwestern’s offensive performance in University Park.
The ‘Cats put up 10 runs in a memorable sixth inning to blow this game open. Robinson’s three-run double, Cunnea’s RBI single, a sacrifice fly from Medina, a single from Nieto and a three-run bomb from Avvisato — her second home run of the day and third of the series — highlighted the ‘Cats’ offensive onslaught as they ballooned the lead to 17-2. Despite a garbage-time run from Penn State in the bottom half of the inning, NU sealed its 17-3 victory and completed the series sweep.
The ‘Cats are back in action on Wednesday at 5 p.m. CT as they travel to South Bend, Indiana, to face Notre Dame.
