WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Boilermakers open the Big Ten Conference tournament Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. as the No. 12 seed, taking on the No. 5 seeded Wildcats of Northwestern.
The two teams have not faced one another during the 2024 season and will meet for the first time since 2024 at Bittinger Stadium tomorrow night.
Purdue assistant coach, Jordyn Rudd-Lee, spent four years at Northwestern as a player, earning various accolades. Rudd-Lee was named a four-time All-Big Ten honoree, an All-Defensive Team honoree, as well as the 2022 Softball America National Defensive Player of the Year, the 2022 Johnny Bench Award for the Best Female Catcher in the Nation, and the Rawlings Gold Glove Award.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
First Round-Wednesday, May 7 – #11 Penn State vs #6 Iowa – 11:00 a.m. ET (BTN)
First Round-Wednesday, May 7 – #10 Indiana vs #7 Washington – 1:30 p.m. ET (BTN)
First Round-Wednesday, May 7 – #9 Wisconsin vs #8 Michigan – 4:30 p.m. ET (BTN)
First Round-Wednesday, May 7 – #12 Purdue vs #5 Northwestern – 7:00 p.m. ET (BTN)
Quarterfinals-Thursday, May 8 – TBD vs #3 Nebraska – 11:00 a.m. ET (BTN)
Quarterfinals-Thursday, May 8 – TBD vs #2 UCLA– 1:30 p.m. ET (BTN)
Quarterfinals-Thursday, May 8 – TBD vs #1 Oregon – 4:30 p.m. ET (BTN)
Quarterfinals-Thursday, May 8 – TBD vs #4 Ohio State – 7:00 p.m. ET (BTN)
Semi-Finals-Friday, May 9 – TBD vs TBD– 5:00 p.m. ET (BTN)
Semi-Finals-Friday, May 9 – TBD vs TBD– 7:30 p.m. ET (BTN)
Championship-Saturday May 10 – TBD vs TBD– 4:00 p.m. ET (BTN)
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Northwestern is 29-17-1 on the year, and 16-6 in Big Ten play. The Wildcats have won their series over Penn State, Michigan State, Minnesota, Illinois, Rutgers, Wisconsin, and most recently the No. 8 team in the country, UCLA. The only series Northwestern lost during the Big Ten season was to Nebraska. The Wildcats are led by Kaylie Avvisato at the plate who has 54 hits on the year with a .355 batting average. On the mound, Northwestern rides Lauren Boyd who has pitched 107.1 innings with 100 strikeouts and a 2.54 ERA.
SERIES HISTORY
In the series history between the two teams, the Wildcats lead the Boilers 46-20, dating back to 1995. Although the Boilers and Northwestern did not play in 2025, the most recent series was back in 2024. During the three-game series, the Boilers took one of three against the Cats, while they were ranked in the top 25 nationally.
For updates on Purdue Softball, follow the Boilermakers on Twitter (@PurdueSoftball), Instagram (@purduesoftball), and Facebook (Purdue Softball).
The two teams have not faced one another during the 2024 season and will meet for the first time since 2024 at Bittinger Stadium tomorrow night.
Purdue assistant coach, Jordyn Rudd-Lee, spent four years at Northwestern as a player, earning various accolades. Rudd-Lee was named a four-time All-Big Ten honoree, an All-Defensive Team honoree, as well as the 2022 Softball America National Defensive Player of the Year, the 2022 Johnny Bench Award for the Best Female Catcher in the Nation, and the Rawlings Gold Glove Award.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
First Round-Wednesday, May 7 – #11 Penn State vs #6 Iowa – 11:00 a.m. ET (BTN)
First Round-Wednesday, May 7 – #10 Indiana vs #7 Washington – 1:30 p.m. ET (BTN)
First Round-Wednesday, May 7 – #9 Wisconsin vs #8 Michigan – 4:30 p.m. ET (BTN)
First Round-Wednesday, May 7 – #12 Purdue vs #5 Northwestern – 7:00 p.m. ET (BTN)
Quarterfinals-Thursday, May 8 – TBD vs #3 Nebraska – 11:00 a.m. ET (BTN)
Quarterfinals-Thursday, May 8 – TBD vs #2 UCLA– 1:30 p.m. ET (BTN)
Quarterfinals-Thursday, May 8 – TBD vs #1 Oregon – 4:30 p.m. ET (BTN)
Quarterfinals-Thursday, May 8 – TBD vs #4 Ohio State – 7:00 p.m. ET (BTN)
Semi-Finals-Friday, May 9 – TBD vs TBD– 5:00 p.m. ET (BTN)
Semi-Finals-Friday, May 9 – TBD vs TBD– 7:30 p.m. ET (BTN)
Championship-Saturday May 10 – TBD vs TBD– 4:00 p.m. ET (BTN)
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Northwestern is 29-17-1 on the year, and 16-6 in Big Ten play. The Wildcats have won their series over Penn State, Michigan State, Minnesota, Illinois, Rutgers, Wisconsin, and most recently the No. 8 team in the country, UCLA. The only series Northwestern lost during the Big Ten season was to Nebraska. The Wildcats are led by Kaylie Avvisato at the plate who has 54 hits on the year with a .355 batting average. On the mound, Northwestern rides Lauren Boyd who has pitched 107.1 innings with 100 strikeouts and a 2.54 ERA.
SERIES HISTORY
In the series history between the two teams, the Wildcats lead the Boilers 46-20, dating back to 1995. Although the Boilers and Northwestern did not play in 2025, the most recent series was back in 2024. During the three-game series, the Boilers took one of three against the Cats, while they were ranked in the top 25 nationally.
For updates on Purdue Softball, follow the Boilermakers on Twitter (@PurdueSoftball), Instagram (@purduesoftball), and Facebook (Purdue Softball).