Softball: Northwestern completes a late rally to best Northern Illinois

An immediate hit-by-pitch brought one more unearned run across the plate, but two pop-ups afterward limited further damage for the Northwestern defense.

Through the fifth and sixth innings, the score stayed stagnant — 4-3 Huskies. Even with one out and bases loaded, the ’Cats couldn’t muster enough to plate a runner, and heading into the seventh, it was a do-or-die situation if they wanted to take the midweek matchup.

It started immediately.

Grace Nieto barreled one up on a 2-2 count, placing the line-drive it just high enough that the shortstop, Alana Powell, had to leap into the air. Unable to hold on, Nieto reached first safely, and her showing was ruled a single before Avvisato stepped to the box.

Working into a hitters count, the sophomore found her pitch and drove it high and to the wall, just a smidge too low to make it over, but rounding third was Nieto — and she wasn’t stopping any time soon. Pumping her arms and swiftly sliding into the plate, she beat the throw by nearly a second and bought some time for Avvisato to advance to third in the process.

The game was tied at 4: no outs, and a runner at third for Emma Raye.

Although quiet thus far, there is no doubt the junior had been on fire the past two weeks. There was no other player you would want in the box in this moment. After watching her first pitch outside the zone, the next was hers. Crushing the ball to the top of the wall in left center, the sac-fly was plenty far enough to allow Avvisato to tag up and sprint home to take the lead.

For the first time in the game, Northwestern led. Admittedly, there was little room for error, but off a lead-taking rally, momentum was high going into the bottom of the seventh.

'Cats In Front! 👏

Emma Raye drives in Kaylie Avvisato with a sac fly to the warning track!

T7 | NU 5, Northern Illinois 4 pic.twitter.com/o7aVFrBazu

— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) April 22, 2026

Riley Hartman, who had popped up in her last at-bat, stepped to the box first. After surviving a 2-1 count, she poked one into shallow left field. But before it could hit the ground, Cunnea enters into frame through a Superman dive, tallying out number one in SportsCenter fashion. Two to go.

A triple from Powell kept a glimmer of hope for NIU, but the Wildcat defense had other plans. After a quick meeting at the circle, a drop-stepping play from Donahey secured the out in her glove and kept Powell standing at third. One to go.

Katy Ramage was the lifeline for the Huskies when she planted her foot in the box. After having two hit-by-pitches and a single earlier in the game, she had reached base in every at-bat. Working inside, Mason tried to jam the righty, but she turned just quickly enough to hit it fair down the third-base foul line. Medina, reaching to the ground after a subtle bobble, launched it to first. In a split second, it was into Robinson’s glove, and the game was up to the umpire.

In a moment of anticipation, everyone waited for the call. After two seconds, he raised his arm and punched it through the air to indicate the out was made. The game was sealed. Northwestern, in a gritty battle, pulled out the victory, 5-4.

For the second-to-last series in the regular season, the Wildcats travel to West Lafayette to face Purdue. First pitch is slated for Friday at 4 pm CT.