| 2015 Northwestern Softball -- Wilson/DeMarini Desert Classic |
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| Game Notes | Northwestern's Weekly Release |
| Game One: Northwestern (2-3) vs. No. 12 UCLA (4-2) |
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| Date | Friday, Feb. 13 | 11 a.m. CT/9 a.m. PT |
| Location | Eller Media Stadium | Las Vegas, Nev. |
| Live Coverage | Gametracker | @NU_SportsLIVE  |
| Game Two: Northwestern (2-3) vs. BYU (2-3) |
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| Date | Friday, Feb. 13 | 1:15 p.m. CT/11:15 a.m. PT |
| Location | Eller Media Stadium | Las Vegas, Nev. |
| Live Coverage | Gametracker | @NU_SportsLIVE |
| Game Three: Northwestern (2-3) vs. UNLV (3-2) |
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| Date | Saturday, Feb. 14 | 5:45 p.m. CT/3:45 p.m. PT |
| Location | Eller Media Stadium | Las Vegas, Nev. |
| Live Coverage | | @NU_SportsLIVE |
| Game Four: Northwestern (2-3) vs. Long Beach State (3-2) |
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| Date | Sunday, Feb. 15 | 1:15 p.m. CT/11:15 a.m. PT |
| Location | Stephanie Lynn Craig Park Field 3 | Henderson, Nev. |
| Live Coverage | @NU_SportsLIVE |
EVANSTON, Ill. -- For the first time since 2010, Northwestern returns to Las Vegas, Nev., for the Wilson/DeMarini Desert Invitational hosted by UNLV. This year's event features 18 teams across four fields at two venues, the Rebels' Eller Media Stadium and Stephanie Lynn Craig Park in Henderson, Nev.
Northwestern's return to Las Vegas this weekend features a marquee matchup with No. 12 UCLA right off the bat at 11 a.m. CT/9 a.m. PT Friday, Feb. 13 as the first part of a doubleheader that concludes against BYU, a team the Wildcats faced twice in the 2014 NCAA Seattle Regional.
The last time the Bruins and Wildcats faced each other in Las Vegas was a late-night classic that did not conclude until after 1 a.m. The lead from the recap that night reads: "In the city that never sleeps, softball fans with the same affliction witnessed an exciting, back-and-forth affair between two of the sport's titans, with No. 4 UCLA coming out on top against No. 13 Northwestern, 16-10, at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic in a game featuring three lead changes and seven home runs." Since that night, NU has dropped a pair of extra-inning games against the Bruins while another was rained out.
Northwestern and BYU opened the NCAA Tournament schedule against each other in 2014, with the Cougars taking a 7-2 decision off the Wildcats. NU battled back to face BYU again in the loser's bracket finale, where the 'Cats came out on top 8-3 to advance to their sixth Regional championship game in the last 10 seasons.
Northwestern also will take on host UNLV in a single game Saturday and Long Beach State Sunday in Las Vegas. Later this year, NU will again play UCLA in a game hosted by Long Beach, though this weekend's #B1GCats-49ers matchup is the lone meeting between the schools.
Northwestern compiled a 2-0 record on Opening Day last weekend at the Kajikawa Classic, defeating North Carolina and UC Santa Barbara. The weekend turned when Texas hit a final-strike walk-off home run to defeat NU before the Wildcats also fell in contests against Pac-12 foes No. 2 Oregon and California.
Senior Andrea DiPrima led NU at the plate at the Kajikawa, hitting .364 while slugging .727 and reaching base at a .611 clip. She drove in five in NU's five games.
Programming Note
Northwestern softball live streaming audio will not be available for NU's next two tournaments in Las Vegas (Wilson/DeMarini Desert Classic) and Cathedral City, Calif. (Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic) before returning Feb. 27-March 1 at the Long Beach Louisville Slugger Invitational.
Northwestern Softball Tickets On Sale Feb. 16
Northwestern softball single game tickets and a flex plan -- new for 2015 -- will be available Feb. 16. NU returns to the Chicagoland area March 14 to host a doubleheader against IUPUI at The Ballpark at Rosemont, home of the Chicago Bandits. IUPUI is coached by former Wildcats volunteer assistant Amanda Rivera and NU All-American Adrienne Monka.
The Wildcats open at Sharon J. Drysdale Field March 27-29 against Big Ten foe Wisconsin. More information on ticket pricing and availability will be released next week.
PLAY BALL!
For a complete preview and notes on this weekend's Wilson/DeMarini Desert Classic, download the Northwestern Weekly Release available in the chart at the top of this page.
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