By Ashley Tumpowsky

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. 

Lacrosse

Results: NCAA Tournament

• 5/19 Quarterfinals vs. Syracuse: 15-4 win

No. 4-seed Northwestern lacrosse got sweet revenge against rival Syracuse last Thursday. The Orange may have ended the Wildcats’ season in the Final Four last year, but in this game, it was all purple from the start. Despite losing draw controls 12-7, Northwestern’s defense was suffocating, forcing 17 turnovers and giving the ‘Cats possession of the ball. When the Syracuse offense managed to take a shot, it was almost impossible to get anything by goalie Madison Doucette, who had 11 saves on the day. This allowed Kelly Amonte Hiller’s dynamic offense to take center stage. Lauren Gilbert led all scorers with four goals. Eight other ‘Cats also contributed to their 15-point total, including senior defender Allie Berkerey who took advantage of a fastbreak to notch her first goal of the season. Northwestern handed Syracuse its biggest loss of the season and sent them packing. 

The ‘Cats will now face No. 1-seed North Carolina in the Semifinals on Friday at 2 p.m. CST. The undefeated Tar Heels escaped with a close 8-5 win over Stony Brook in the quarterfinals. The Wildcats will once again fight for revenge after the Tar Heels dominated their regular season matchup 20-9. 

Softball

Results: NCAA Tournament Evanston Regional

• 5/20 vs. Oakland: 9-2 win
• 5/21 vs. McNeese: 17-3 win (5 inn.)
• 5/22 vs. McNeese: 10-2 win (5 inn.)

No. 9-seed Northwestern softball hosted the Evanston Regional this weekend at Sharon J. Drysdale Field. In the opening game, Northwestern topped Oakland 9-2. Rachel Lewis and an RBI ground-out by Jordyn Rudd helped the ‘Cats to an early 2-0 lead. Although the Golden Grizzlies tied it up in the top of the third, Northwestern responded with a 7-0 scoring run to win the game. Danielle Williams ended her complete-game performance with eight strikeouts and only four hits allowed. 

Next, the ‘Cats defeated McNeese twice to close out the double elimination bracket. Skyler Shellmyer boosted the ‘Cats to their 17-3 victory on Saturday, with four runs scored on four at-bats. Jordyn Rudd, Nikki Cuchran, and Ayana Lindsey each added homers as well and Northwestern walked away in dominating fashion in the fifth. 

Sunday was a similar story, with McNeese returning to face the ‘Cats once again after defeating Notre Dame 3-1 in the elimination game. Northwestern took command of the contest in the third inning when Rudd blasted a double to center field, scoring Shellmyer and Lewis. The Wildcats continued to build on their lead as Rachel Lewis drilled a three-run homer in the fourth and Angela Zedak followed with her own two-run homer. Zedak’s hit landed on the roof of Welsh-Ryan Arena, earning her a spot in the coveted “Roof Club.”  The sold-out crowd erupted as the Wildcats took the 10-2 win, securing their spot in the Super Regionals.

Northwestern will head to Tempe, Arizona to face No.8-seed Arizona State on Friday. The two teams will compete in a best-of-three series to see who will advance to the NCAA Women’s College World Series. 

Baseball

Results: away series vs. Minnesota 

• 5/19 14-8 loss
• 5/20 11-1 win
• 5/21 7-2 loss

In a last-ditch effort to make the Big Ten Tournament, Northwestern baseball won two of three games against Minnesota this weekend. Although players like Anhony Calarco, Ethan O’Donnell and Jay Beshears led the team offensively, it was clear the Wildcats’ success was going to be dependent on their pitching. Northwestern’s Coby Moe, Reed Smith and Jack Sauser split pitching responsibilities on Friday night but to no avail. Despite a strong push from the ‘Cats to tie the game up at 14 in the eighth, the Golden Gophers notched another run and took home the win. But the Wildcats improved on the mound in the next two games. On Saturday, Michael Farinelli nearly went the distance, surrendering 12 hits to Minnseota en route to a 11-9 ‘Cats win. Grant Comstock took his turn on Sunday, allowing two hits and collecting nine strikeouts in his 101 pitches. The freshman led his team to an 8-5 victory to close out the series. 

Despite winning the series 2-1, the ‘Cats were unable to obtain a spot in the Big Ten Tournament. Indiana edged out both Nebraska and Northwestern, all three of which ended the regular season 10-14 in conference play, for the final spot in the tournament.