Moving into its closing week of the normal time, the Northwestern Softball workforce has set with each other a 38-7 file, including an 18-2 mark in meeting engage in. If the Wildcats win two of three game titles in opposition to the Minnesota Golden Gophers this weekend, NU will clinch at minimum a share of the Large Ten title, which would be its very first because 2008.
With all of the excellent mojo emanating out of Evanston, postseason hopes are significant. That includes currently being equipped to view the ‘Cats duke it out with prime-notch opposition in mid-to-late May well from Northwestern’s personal Sharon J. Drysdale Subject.
Out of the 64 teams selected to contend in the NCAA Event every season, only the top 16 grow to be regional hosts, with the prime 8 hosting Super Regionals. As a result of the most recent rankings, the Wildcats are No. 7 in RPI, No. 8 in D1 Softball’s Leading 25 and No. 8 in the United states These days/NFCA Coaches Division I poll. In other words, Northwestern is just about a lock to host regional motion in the course of the weekend of May perhaps 20-22.
If the ‘Cats do make the prestigious mark, it would be the fifth time underneath Kate Drohan NU has earned home-area benefit to open postseason participate in the prior 4 seasons in which it hosted a regional are 2019, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
When regional video games are played from The J, the Wildcats have accrued a stellar 12-2 record and have long gone 4-for-4 in generating the Super Regional. In truth, Drohan & Co. reached the University Globe Collection in two of people seasons — 2006 and 2007 — and are hoping to return to Oklahoma Town for the initial time in 15 a long time.
The most current iteration of the Evanston Regional transpired in 2019. The 16-seeded Wildcats dominated Detroit Mercy in Round Just one, went 1-1 from Louisville and Southern Illinois in Round Two and swept the two-recreation sequence in opposition to U of L in the Regional Finals. NU was in the long run swept by No. 1 Oklahoma in the Tremendous Regionals.
Although not nevertheless confirmed to host a regional, the ‘Cats will indubitably be selected among the the best 64 teams in the country. 2022 would mark the 17th time that Northwestern would be selected for postseason engage in in Drohan’s 21 yrs at the helm of the system.
In the course of her tenure, the Wildcats have not been a behemoth in regional action total, heading just 24-22. In complete, NU has superior to the Tremendous Regionals 5 times given that 2002, that means 80% of those outings have arrive when web hosting a regional.
Backed by a prolific offense of Rachel Lewis, Jordyn Rudd, Maeve Nelson, Hannah Cady and a lot more — and boasting 1 of the very best pitchers in the nation in Danielle Williams — Northwestern is armed and risky coming into postseason participate in. By prevailing in the Big 10 Event from Could 12-14, the Wildcats will all but assure by themselves a postseason date suitable on the shores of Lake Michigan with waves of purple guiding them.
