NU WSB Takes 3 of 4 From Nebraska

Northwestern hosted the University of Nebraska in a four game series to close out the regular season. The Wildcats ended on a high note, taking three of the four games.

Northwestern took the first game on Friday. Backed by another great pitching performance by Danielle Williams, the Wildcats cruised to a 6-1 win.

Morgan Newport started an offensive burst in the second with a solo home run. With Maeve Nelson on base, Angela Zedak smashed a homer. Skyler Shellmyer singled with Emma Bartz on base for an RBI and she scored on a single by Rachel Lewis. In the fourth, Mac Dunlap homered to make it 6-1.

Williams went the distance, allowing only one run on four hits. She walked one and struck out 13 batters.

The Wildcats took Game One on Saturday 9-1. The Wildcats combined big hitting with solid pitching.

With Zedak and Maeve Nelson on base, Nikki Cuchran singled to make it 2-0. Jordyn Rudd walked with the bases loaded for another run. Newport doubled to drive in runs four and five.

Nebraska scored one in the third, but NU came right back with two in the bottom of the inning. Cuchran doubled with Zedak on base for one run. Lewis walked with the bases loaded for the second run.

In the fifth, Dunlap scored on a Lewis single. In the sixth, Sami Stanley scored on a Sydney Supple double. To end the scoring.

Lauren Boyd started, going four innings for the win. She gave up only four hits and one run, while walking three and striking out four. Supple relieved, allowing only two baserunners on walks while striking out one.

The nightcap did not go NU's way. Nebraska took a 5-4 victory.

Northwestern struck first, plating two in the third. Rudd singled to score Dunlap and Newport singled to score Rudd. NU scored one more in the fourth on an error.

Nebraska scored two in the fifth, but Northwestern got one back in their half of the inning as Lewis stole home. Unfortunately, Nebraska scored one in the sixth and two in the seventh to seal the win.

Williams went the distance on the mound for Northwestern. She gave up five runs on eight hits, with one walk and six strikeouts.

Sunday was a big day for Newport. She pitched a complete game and slugged a two-run homer while going 3-3. Newport gave up 11 hits, but walked none and struck out five, while improving to 6-3.

Nebraska scored in the first, but NU matched the run in the bottom of the inning. Supple drove in Newport for the first run.

NU added two more in the third, when Newport crushed a two run home run. Nebraska came right back though to tie it in the fourth. Nu answered again, as Rudd stroked an RBI single to give the lead back to NU.

Nebraska tied the game once again in the of the fourth, but Northwestern took the lead right back in the bottom of the inning, thanks to a RBI-single from Jordyn Rudd.

In the fifth, Supple barely missed a homer, but settled for an RBI double. Later in the fifth, Dunlap drove in Cuchran to make it 6-3. Nebraska still had some life, hitting two solo shots, but they fell short.

Northwestern finished the season at 29-15. NU finished in third, behind Michigan (36-6) and Minnesota (28-12). The Wildcats are looking for their sixth tournament birth in the last seven tourneys when the Tournament Selection Show airs later tonight.