The Northwestern Wildcats faced a challenging weekend in Fayetteville, Arkansas, competing against the No. 8-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks and the Southeast Missouri Redhawks from March 10 to 12, 2023. The Wildcats finished the five-game series with a 2-3 record, continuing their search for a victory against ranked opponents this season.
On Friday, Northwestern (6-9, 0-0 Big Ten) opened the series with a decisive win over Southeast Missouri (3-10, 0-0 OVC). Junior pitcher Riley Grudzielanek showcased her skills by throwing five innings, allowing only one run on two hits while striking out six batters. The Wildcats capitalized on fielding errors from the Redhawks, scoring three runs in the first two innings, including an RBI double from senior infielder Bridget Donahey.
Later that day, the Wildcats faced a stark contrast in performance against the Razorbacks, suffering a 6-0 loss. Northwestern managed just two baserunners, with the Razorbacks’ pitching shutting down their offense. The Wildcats also struggled defensively, committing three errors that led to unearned runs.
The following day, Northwestern rebounded against Southeast Missouri in their second matchup. After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, the Wildcats exploded offensively, scoring 12 unanswered runs and not allowing a single hit in the next five innings. Sophomore infielder Kaylie Avvisato led the charge with a career-high five RBIs, including a grand slam during an eight-run sixth inning. Freshman pitcher Marina Mason contributed significantly, allowing only one hit and recording seven strikeouts in five innings.
However, Northwestern’s offensive momentum did not carry over in their next game against Arkansas, where they were shut out once again, losing 7-0. The Wildcats managed five hits but committed two errors, which hindered their performance.
In the final contest of the weekend on Sunday, Northwestern engaged in a fierce back-and-forth battle with Arkansas, ultimately falling 9-8. The teams exchanged five-run innings, with Northwestern tying the game at 6-6 in the fourth. However, a three-run homer from the Razorbacks in the fifth inning proved pivotal. Although Mason held the Razorbacks scoreless for the remainder of the game, a late home run from Donahey brought the Wildcats within one, but they could not secure the equalizer.
With this series concluded, Northwestern remains winless against ranked opponents this season, holding an 0-6 record. The Wildcats will look to turn their fortunes around when they face No. 23 Duke, Boston University, and Ohio State next weekend.
