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Northwestern keeps postseason hopes alive, takes series at No. 9 UCLA

Screenshot 2024-07-31 at 7.46.34 PMby:Brady Vernon•05/04/25•

BradyVernon

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Crash Kamon/Softball America

It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. Northwestern softball has taken that to heart. The Wildcats have played much better during their Big Ten slate, ending the regular season with a 5-3 rubber match win over No. 9 UCLA to massively improve their postseason resume.

Taylor Tinsley was cruising after a rough start in the first. The UCLA righty retired every batter she faced between the second and fifth innings except one. When the Bruins made the change to Addisen Fisher in the sixth, Northwestern took advantage.

Grace Nieto and Kelsey Nader singled against Fisher, giving Izzy Cunnea, who drove in the first Northwestern run, a two-out chance. She hit a slow dribbler to first base that UCLA’s Megan Grant had no play on after she fielded it. Northwestern loaded the bases after Bridget Donahey walked on four pitches. Lauren Sciborski singled to center field, scoring three runs to take the lead after the throw home to Sofia Mujica got away to allow Donahey to come in.

Lauren Boyd put together another masterful performance after blanking the Bruins on Friday. Boyd allowed three runs in the third inning off a fielder’s choice and Alexis Ramirez’s two-run single. However, Boyd buckled down the rest of the way to give her offense a chance to come back.

Boyd didn’t allow another hit in the final four innings of the game. She walked two batters but each time left them stranded. She ended the day throwing a complete game, allowing three runs on four hits and striking out four batters.

Northwestern is very well back in the bubble picture, while UCLA’s Top-Eight seeds hopes to a massive hit. Both programs head to Purdue for the Big Ten Tournament starting on Wednesday. UCLA will await its matchup on Thursday as the Bruins have a first-round bye. Northwestern will either be the four-seed with a bye or the five-seed depending on tiebreakers.

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