Northwestern vs Nebraska | Big Ten Softball - Game 3 | Softball - Apr 7, 2019 at 12:53 PM EDT
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Northwestern earned its third-straight weekend series sweep on Sunday afternoon with a 4-0 victory at Nebraska following another dominant pitching performance.
Danielle Williams tossed her third-consecutive complete game shutout, including her second of the series, while allowing just one hit and striking out 12. This marks the fourth one-hit shutout thrown by Williams this season as well as her 10th shutout of the season, the most in the Big Ten and second-most in the country.
The first-year from Pleasanton, Calif. has now tossed 33.0-consecutive scoreless innings in Big Ten play and lowers her conference ERA to 0.18 (1 ER/39.0 IP) while upping her strikeout total to 60.
As a pitching staff, Northwestern allowed just nine combined hits on the weekend and four in its last two games thanks to Williams' performance on Sunday and a three-hit complete game tossed by Kenna Wilkey on Saturday. The Wildcats now have 13 shutouts on the season, the most in the Big Ten.
The #B1GCats have now won 12 of their last 13 games and extended their season-long winning streak to seven games. Northwestern is now 9-0 in the Big Ten for the first time since 2009. Also with Sunday's win, head coach Kate Drohan and associate head coach Caryl Drohan improved their career win total to 599 wins.
Lily Novak led the Wildcats at the plate with two RBI thanks to a clutch two-out hit in the top of the third inning to pad the 'Cats lead. Novak led the team with five RBI in three games this weekend; she now has 10 RBI in conference play this season and has recorded a hit in five of her last six games.
The Wildcats kicked off scoring in the bottom of the second after Jordyn Rudd led off the inning with a double down the left field line, her 12th of the season. After moving over to third via a sacrifice bunt by Novak, Skyler Shellmyer drove in Rudd with a two-out RBI-single to the shortstop.
In the top of the third, the 'Cat loaded up the bases with two outs and added to their lead after Novak drove a pitch into right field to bring home Morgan Nelson and Emma Bartz.
Williams helped her own cause at the plate in the top of the fifth and came through with a full count and two outs to bring home Morgan Newport with a single through the right side, giving Northwestern a 4-0 lead. From there, the rookie southpaw cruised in the circle as she did not allow a hit in the game's final six innings.
Northwestern outscored Nebraska 20-2 over the weekend while combing for a team on-base percentage of .415. Eight different Wildcats recorded two or more hits over the series, while 10 'Cats scored at least one run. Rudd led the way, going 4-for-9 with two doubles, two RBI and four runs scored.
Chicago's Big Ten Team will be back in action with a pair of non-conference games during the week before resuming conference play. The Wildcats play host to Notre Dame on Tuesday at 4 p.m. CT then on travel across town to UIC for a Wednesday night showdown beginning at 6 p.m. CT. On Friday, the Wildcats kick off a three-game series against Wisconsin beginning at 4 p.m CT. at Sharon J. Drysdale Field. Fans looking to attend any of the #B1GCats home games this week can purchase tickets HERE.