Trailing by one in the fifth inning, Northwestern had its best chance to grab a lead by loading the bases, but ultimately fell to UCLA, 6-1, in a Women's College World Series elimination bracket game at Hall of Fame Stadium on Friday night. The Wildcats finish their season with a 45-13 record, appeared in the program's sixth WCWS and captured the Big Ten regular season title.
"This team is one of a kind. I said this to them as often as I could," said head coach Kate Drohan. "It was an honor to coach them, and I just loved seeing them every day."
NU's offense mustered only two baserunners over the first four innings on Skyler Shellmyer's leadoff single and Rachel Lewis' fourth frame walk. With one out in the fifth, Angela Zedak singled and Hannah Cady walked, setting up Grace Nieto to slap a looping RBI double that snuck down the left field line. Shellmyer then walked to load the bases, but with two outs, NU was unable to score.
UCLA (49-9) scored single tallies in the first, fourth and sixth innings before putting up three runs in the top of the seventh to pull away. After Northwestern loaded the bases, pitcher Megan Faraimo led off the next inning yanking the game's only home run to left, extending the Bruins lead to 3-1.
Wildcats hurler Danielle Williams (31-6) dodged traffic on the bases during the early innings, as the Bruins left six on base over the first four stanzas. The senior workhouse tossed the full game, striking out seven while allowing 10 hits, six runs, five earned runs and five walks. Williams finished the campaign with 333 strikeouts, the program's fifth-highest single-season mark, and is the only pitcher to record two 30+ win seasons in school history.
Faraimo (23-5) went the distance, striking out 10.
Zedak and Nieto each tallied two knocks, combining for four of the Wildcats five total hits. Hannah Cady, Shellyer and Lewis recorded a walk apiece. Gold Glove catcher Jordyn Rudd caught two runners stealing.
"This team, they were so authentic and vulnerable to the process," remarked Drohan. "I will remember really how grateful I have felt every single day that I've taken the field with them."
Northwestern won 45 or more games in a season for the second time since 2019 and earned its first WCWS appearance since 2007.
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