Softball Open Thread, Week Ending Sunday, April 24

Breaking news!

National Player of the Year ! https://t.co/49MdajDBaG pic.twitter.com/kdIzxv182a
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) April 20, 2022

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"It was an indescribable feeling."

Rachel Lewis (@rlewis_11) talks breaking @tammywilliams2's @NUSBCats all-time HR record.

Full #B1Gtoday interview ➡️ https://t.co/EtmucjytpM pic.twitter.com/3XmnNHFS26
— Northwestern On BTN (@NUOnBTN) April 19, 2022

Northwestern travels to Champaign for a midweek doubleheader against Illinois on Wednesday at 12 p.m. CT. After sweeping Ohio State and Purdue, the 'Cats (30-6 overall, 11-1 Big Ten) are looking to extend their six-game win streak.

Rachel Lewis hit two home runs on Friday to become the Northwestern softball's lifetime home run leader. She hit two additional home runs on Saturday, bringing her total to 60 and making her only the fourth player in Big Ten history to reach that milestone. For the third time this season, she was selected Big Ten Player of the Week on Monday, and D1Softball recognized her as National Player of the Week on Tuesday.

Northwestern's Rachel Lewis, Texas' Hailey Dolcini and Arizona State's Cydney Sanders take home the D1Softball weekly awards.@NUSBcats x @rlewis_11 @TexasSoftball x @haileydolcini @ASUSoftball x @SandersCydney #D1Softball | @RapsodoSoftball https://t.co/CEuPqkIg7t
— D1Softball (@D1Softball) April 19, 2022

With 18 home runs this season, Lewis is tied for first in the Big Ten with Nebraska' Billie Andrews. With 41 RBIs, she is third in the conference, behind Gabrielle Callaway of Rutgers and Andrews.

On Sunday, Maeve Nelson stole the show, driving in a career-high eight runs. At the plate, she went three for three and hit two home runs, one of which was a grand slam.

Illinois is currently on a 10-game winning streak (26-13 overall, 9-2 conference). With a 32-15 record against the Illini, Northwestern has the upper hand in the lifetime series.

Wednesday, April 20

Top 10 Softball at Illinois

Schedule Update ⬇️

Due to forecasted weather tomorrow evening, our doubleheader at Illinois will now begin at 12 pm CT.

Game two will begin ~30 min after the conclusion of game one! pic.twitter.com/sGNjZvt2Cm
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) April 19, 2022

Game 1: Noon CT | BTN+ | Live Stats

Game 2: 2:30 PM CT | BTN+ | Live Stats

Friday, April 22

Top 10 Softball at Indiana

5 PM CT | BTN+ | Live Stats

Primetime Softball. Let's get it!

Indiana
Bloomington, Ind.
⏰ 5 pm CT
https://t.co/XnmZNRR3QU
https://t.co/HDmK27d5Ml #GoCats | #BeRemarkable pic.twitter.com/qxoX2yZauB
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) April 22, 2022

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