Softball: Northwestern ends its 2024-25 season on the road in South Carolina

Forget about three strikes — two games, and you’re out. 

The road to Oklahoma City is long and unforgiving, and for Northwestern (30-20-1, 16-6 B1G), the journey began in South Carolina. Palmettos swayed, Southern charm lingered — but the ‘Cats weren’t exactly peachy when they left for home.

For its first trial, Clemson (47-12, 19-5 ACC), Kentucky (31-28, 7-17 SEC) and USC Upstate (39-16, 10-8 BSC) joined Northwestern in the four-team, double-elimination Clemson regional. The ultimate winner advances to the NCAA Super Regionals.

To kick off the weekend tournament, Northwestern first faced one of its many wildcat cousins, Kentucky. Graduate student Lauren Boyd started in the circle for the ‘Cats while first-year Carson Fall toed the rubber for the opposition.

In the first four innings, the bats were loud, but the runs were quiet. Both defenses did their jobs, but there were glimmers of hope for either team with a combined 10 runners left on base, six for Northwestern and four for Kentucky.

Leading up to the fifth, the closest any team got to a run was NU’s two-out rally in the top of the third. First-year Kaylie Avvisato started it off, and she battled to a full count and then drew a walk. On the next pitch, junior Kelsey Nader singled to right field and advanced Avvisato to second. Not finished yet, a nine-pitch battle from junior Kansas Robinson extended the inning further, with her walk leaving the bases loaded for sophomore Isabel Cunnea. After another first pitch swing, Cunnea grounded Nader into a fielder’s choice at third, squandering the chance for a run, but proving Kentucky needed to keep their defense locked down.

Another scoreless frame kept the score 0-0, but the fifth was when the seal broke. Senior Grace Nieto singled up the middle to start the inning early for the ‘Cats. Avvisato fouled out the next at-bat, but a single to the pitcher from Nader put runners in scoring position. Like some of those before her, Robinson swung on her first pitch, crushing one to left center and advancing to second with her two RBI-double — the ‘Cats on top 2-0.

A three-up, three-down half-inning following Northwestern’s break-out inning propelled them into another victorious inning. Headed by Avvisato’s two-RBI single to left field, senior Ayana Lindsey and junior Bridget Donahey scored after they reached base on a single and a walk, respectively. Heading to the bottom of the sixth, the ‘Cats were up 4-0.

The next two half innings saw a similar treatment as virtually all those preceding them: scoreless on both sides. The bottom of the seventh, two outs and Kentucky’s last chance to have a rally of its own saw a hit from sophomore Delani Sullivan. Her single to center field left one on base for the Wildcats before the final out closed the game. Boyd, officially accredited with a 106-pitch complete game shutout, led the team to a Saturday afternoon winner’s bracket semifinal duel.

Clemson earned its spot in the semis after a 10-2 win against USC Upstate Friday evening. Not wanting to mess with success, the ‘Cats put Boyd back in the circle while the Tigers countered with senior Reese Basinger.

Boyd and company started strong on defense — three consecutive three-up, three-down innings had the ‘Cats looking for the win early. Yet, they could not get the bats going in clutch moments. Even in the fourth, with one out and two runners on, a pitching change from the Tigers to senior Brooke McCubbin stifled the offense.

But Northwestern fought hard, and even when Clemson had two runners on base, the ‘Cats turned a top-ten worthy triple play. Avvisato snagged the line drive at short, tossed it to second for the force out and Nieto zipped the ball into the glove of Robinson at first — completing the sequence and inning.

The score remained at zero through the seventh inning — Boyd remained strong and McCubbin continued to shut the Northwestern offense down. In extra innings, another three retired for the Tigers gave the ‘Cats the chance to walk it off. Back-to-back outs, a walk from Avvisato and another out lengthened the game to nine innings — any team needed one swing to take it all.

After a groundout by first-year Macey Cintron, the ninth turned electric for the Tigers. Senior Aby Vieira tripled down the right field line. Freshman Marian Collins then executed a perfect squeeze, forcing Boyd to dive and barely push the ball toward first, but not in time. Unsuccessful efforts gave Clemson the lead with one out and a runner on first. A walk right after doubled up the bases, but luckily for Northwestern, Boyd powered through and produced two strikeouts to end the inning.

The ‘Cats needed at least one — two if they wanted to walk it off — but a fly-out from Robinson dampened spirits ever so slightly as only two outs remained. A 10-pitch at-bat from Cunnea ended in a single, but two consecutive outs ended the game and dropped Northwestern to the losing side of the bracket.

Only a couple of hours later, the action continued, this time with a familiar foe. Kentucky was back again after its 11-0 win over USC Upstate.

After 256 pitches from Boyd, she earned her rest. NU’s remaining pitching squad filled the gap, and sophomore Riley Grudzielanek got the start. Kentucky, on the other hand, started their sophomore in the circle, Sydney Langdon.

The ‘Cats jumped early, three straight outs catapulted them into a successful offensive start. A leadoff walk from Nieto allowed Northwestern to notch one run on the board after Robinson tripled to left center. But unlike their first matchup, the Wildcats were not going down without a fight.

Through multiple walks, singles, doubles, wild pitches, throwing errors and pitching changes, the ‘Cats could not catch a break. By the end of the second inning, Kentucky had taken back the one run in the first and six more on top of that — the score 7-1 headed to the third. On top of this, Northwestern already cycled through Grudzielanek and sophomore Renae Cunningham for pitching. Now they were onto redshirt first-year Signe Dohse.

A lone double by Lindsey wasn’t enough to spark a two-out rally after their disastrous second inning. As the Wildcats increased the pressure following a homer by sophomore Ally Hutchins, the ‘Cats continued to falter.

The next three innings were scoreless. Headed to the seventh, the possibility of a comeback faded even more. Northwestern called on first-year Emma Blea to close the game, and after a shaky three outs, the ‘Cats were up to the plate for their last chance.

Sophomore Emma Raye started it off with a double to center, followed by a single from Lindsey. Five pitches deep, Donahey popped up for out one. Four pitches later, Nieto reached on a fielder’s choice, picking up an RBI and inching closer to the lead. A sac-fly from Avvisato scored one more, clearing the bases, but putting two outs on the board.

The chance of extending the inning came down to Nader. On her first pitch, she tried to make something happen, but flew too close to the sun — and right into the glove of right field sophomore Peyton Plotts to give Kentucky their bid to the championship.

Losing 8-3, Northwestern was officially eliminated from the tournament, its 2024-25 season over.