NU Softball Swept By Minnesota

The No. 22 Northwestern Wildcats opened a three game series at home against Minnesota with a tough 3-2 extra innings loss on Friday. The Golden Gophers were a solid 15-5 coming into the series.

NU trailed 2-0 going into the sixth. With Emma Bartz and Sammy Stanley on base, Morgan Newport crushed a double, nearly missing a homer, to tie the game 2-2.

That was all the scoring for the Wildcats, unfortunately, but not the Gophers. Remaining tied into the tenth, the Gophers got back on the board to take a 3-2 win.

Danielle Williams had another excellent start. She pitched 5.2 innings, giving up only three hits and five walks, while striking out 10. Newport took the tough loss, pitching 4.1 innings, giving up only one hit and one walk, while notching two strikeouts.

On Saturday, NU's woes continued in the first game of a double header, as they lost 6-2. The series was getting as dreary as the weather.

Minnesota scored two in the first and in the second to take a 4-0 lead. In the bottom of the second, Nelson homered with Newport on base to cut the lead in half. Minnesota added one in the fourth and one more in the seventh to seal the win.

Sydney Supple took the loss, pitching 3.1 innings, allowing five runs on ix hits and two walks, with three strikeouts. Lauren Boyd relieved, allowing one run on three hits, with two walks and three strikeouts.

The second game was postponed until Sunday. Unfortunately, things did not improve then either.

On Sunday, despite a great pitching effort from Williams, NU lost 2-1 in extra innings. Williams is now 10-2 on the season. Skyler Shellmyer singled and was driven in by Jordyn Rudd for the only run.

The Wildcats fell 10-4 in the nightcap. Rudd and Rachel Lewis homered and Shellmyer had two hits for her seventh multi-hit game of the year.

Newport took the loss. She is 3-2.

The Wildcats are now 18-6. They travel to Iowa for a four game series beginning Friday.