URBANA, Ill. (May 13, 2023) – Maeve Nelson roped a game-winning single to right-center field in the bottom of the seventh inning, capping a two-run rally that lifted top-seeded Northwestern University to a 2-1 victory over No. 2 seed Indiana University in the championship game of the 2023 Big Ten Conference Tournament on Saturday afternoon at the University of Illinois’ Eichelberger Field in Urbana, Illinois.
The Wildcats (38-11) earned their 28th win in their last 31 outings and their third Big Ten Tournament title (first since 2008). Northwestern, which also captured the Big Ten championship by two games over Indiana, will receive the conference’s automatic berth into the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The 64-team field for that event will be revealed at 7 p.m. (ET) Sunday live on ESPN2.
Graduate student pitcher Danielle Williams was named the Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player after going 2-0 with a save, a 0.00 ERA and eight strikeouts in 14.0 innings of work during the tournament. On Saturday, she tossed a complete-game four-hitter, allowing an unearned run while striking out four. Williams improved to 19-1 this season and Saturday’s victory was the 102nd of her career, moving the Pleasanton, California, native into a tie with Michigan’s Megan Betsa (2014-17) for fifth place on the Big Ten career wins list.
Making its first appearance in the Big Ten Tournament title game, Indiana (42-16) was paced by sophomore righthander Brianna Copeland, who tossed six brilliant innings, allowing just one hit before Northwestern touched her for the tying and winning runs in the seventh. Copeland (21-3) would allow two runs on three hits while walking four.
The Hoosiers had taken a 1-0 lead in the third inning on a quirky play. After Cassidy Kettleman reached on an error and Kinsey Mitchell singled, Brooke Benson followed with a sacrifice bunt to move both runners up. Cora Bassett then bunted back to the circle, and Williams threw to third to try and catch Kettleman in a rundown. However, Kettleman managed to dodge a tag attempt from Nelson (who caught Williams’ relay in the pickle) and Kettleman then scampered home, while Mitchell was picked off trying to dive back into second.
It seemed that one run would be enough until the bottom of the seventh. Jordyn Rudd led off with a single and Lauren Sciborski came in to run for her. Hannah Cady followed with a single to left center, with Sciborski going first to third and Cady taking second on the throw. Nikki Cuchran was then walked, but the fourth ball also skittered to the backstop, plating Sciborski with the tying run.
Copeland intentionally walked Angela Zedak before she was relieved in the circle by Heather Johnson. Nelson stepped into the box and drilled a 1-2 pitch into the right-center alley to score Cady with the title-winning run.
Big Ten All-Tournament Team
Cora Bassett, Indiana
Brianna Copeland, Indiana
Taylor Minnick, Indiana
Sarah Stone, Indiana
Nia Carter, Iowa
Kayla Chavez, Minnesota
Autumn Pease, Minnesota
Courtney Wallace, Nebraska
Kelsey Nader, Northwestern
Danielle Williams, Northwestern
Angela Zedak, Northwestern
Sam Hackenbracht, Ohio State
Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Danielle Williams, Northwestern