By Ally Navarrete

Editor’s note: Each week, WNUR Sports recaps the news and results from the in-season, non-revenue teams that we cover in order to help our listeners and readers stay connected to the pulse of Northwestern athletics. 

Softball

Results: Home series vs. Iowa 

• 4/29: 9-5
• 4/30: 4-0 
• 5/1: 9-0 (5 inn.)

The softball ‘Cats notched their fifth Big Ten series sweep of the season after taking three from the Iowa Hawkeyes at home this weekend. Northwestern ace Danielle Williams had somewhat of an uncharacteristic day on the mound, giving up four runs in her 5.1 innings pitched. The game was a bit too close for comfort for the ‘Cats, with the score tied 4-4 after the top of the fifth. But the Northwestern bats began to heat up just in time, enough for the team to take a 9-4 lead by the end of the sixth inning. After Williams, Lauren Dvorak pitched the final 1.2 innings for Northwestern, and she gave up just one run and earned credit for the save. 

Saturday was Sydney Supple’s game. Supple pitched a complete game for the shutout win, giving up just four hits on the day. While the Wildcat bats were a bit quieter than normal, four runs, including a homer from Hannah Cady, were enough for Northwestern to escape with a 4-0 win over the Hawkeyes. 

Williams got the start again on Sunday, pitching at her normal caliber. The ‘Cats run-ruled the Hawkeyes with Williams giving up just three hits and notching seven strikeouts. Cady got it done again with a grand slam. Some speed from Northwestern also helped get things done on offense, with Rachel Lewis, Ayana Lindsey and Grace Nieto each grabbing a stolen base. 

After this series, the ‘Cats moved to 38-7 overall and 18-2 in conference play. The team will be back in action on Tuesday to face DePaul on the road and then travel to Minneapolis next weekend to close out the regular season against the Golden Gophers.

Baseball

Results: Road series at No. 23 Maryland

• 4/29: 13-0 loss
• 4/30: 7-4 win
• 5/1: 10-5 win

The ‘Cats had a tough opponent in the ranked Terps, but escaped College Park with one win this past weekend. Things got off to a rough start in game one, with Maryland’s Ryan Ramsey pitching a perfect game. Northwestern’s Friday starter Sean Sullivan had a tough day on the mound, pitching just 2.2 innings in which he gave up nine hits and eight runs with his 66 pitches. The Northwestern bullpen couldn’t rebound from Sullivan’s performance, with Jacob Scharm pitching the final 4.1 innings and giving up four runs of his own. And while the Wildcat bats were ice cold thanks to Ramsey’s pitching, Maryland had four players hit home runs.

But the ‘Cats came out on Saturday ready to continue the fight. Michael Farinelli got things started for the Northwestern pitching staff and surrendered just one run in his 5.0 innings pitched. Maryland’s starter had a fantastic day on the mound, pitching seven innings without a single Northwestern run. But the Terps ran into some serious bullpen issues that allowed the ‘Cats to make a comeback.

Until the eighth inning, the Terps had a 1-0 lead. But in the top of the eighth, the ‘Cats went up 5-1 thanks to hits from Jay Beshears, Vince Bianchina and Bennett Markinson. Maryland hit two homers in the bottom of the inning and started to climb back, but Anthony Calarco responded with a home run of his own in the top of the ninth and Bianchina doubled to send Beshears home, sealing the deal for the ‘Cats. This was their first win over a ranked opponent this season. 

But Sunday proved to be another tough test for the Wildcats as they couldn’t stretch their Saturday win momentum another day. It was an especially rough day for the Northwestern bullpen, with Grant Comstock getting the start and six pitchers taking a stab at the Terps behind him. Comstock pitched 4.1 innings, giving up three hits and two runs. After appearances from Jack Sauser and Reed Smith, Parker Hanks came in for the ‘Cats, and he gave up three runs that all but sealed the deal for the Terps, who took their fifth Big Ten series win of the year.

The ‘Cats are now 20-19 on the season and 7-7 in Big Ten play. They’ll take on UIC on the road Tuesday before returning home to Miller Park for a series against Ohio State this upcoming weekend. 

Lacrosse

While the Lakeshow got the week off, we thought we should still give you a little lax update. The ‘Cats finished the regular season with a loss on the road to No. 8 Maryland for a record of 13-3 overall and 5-1 in the Big Ten. 

They’ll hit the field again in Piscataway this weekend for the Big Ten Tournament. Northwestern notched the No. 2-seed behind the Terps and will take on the No. 3-seeded Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the semifinals on Friday. Northwestern defeated Rutgers 21-13 on April 7, and will look to do it again in order to advance to a potential revenge match in the finals against Maryland (who will face No. 4, Johns Hopkins, on Friday).