In their final regular season home game this season, Northwestern was scoreless with Illinois in the bottom of the third inning. The Wildcats had loaded the bases with no outs, giving themselves a prime chance to pounce on their in-state rival.
Runs would be necessary, and should they score first, NU would have to feel good about their chances; after drawing first blood, the Wildcats are 30-2 this year.
With the situation ripe for a lead, Northwestern’s next two hitters couldn’t take advantage. Each went down on strikes. Then Jordyn Rudd stepped into the batter’s box. The freshman catcher, batting a team-leading .