2025: Finished with a 2-0 record in seven appearances and 17.2 innings pitched … Collected a save on opening day with a scoreless appearance against Kennesaw State (2/7) … Fired 3.0 innings against No. 5 Tennessee (2/8) … Posted 2.1 scoreless innings and struck out one against No. 18 Virginia Tech (2/14) … Hurled another 2.0 scoreless frames while striking out two in a win over UT Arlington (2/15) … Fired 2.2 innings, allowing no earned runs and striking out one against No. 8 LSU (2/15) … Made four appearances in relief without allowing an earned run at the Mary Nutter Classic (2/21-23) … Her 1.95 ERA through the first three weekends of the season ranked 12th in the Big Ten … Allowed two runs and six hits while striking out six in 5.1 innings of work against Central Michigan (2/28) … Tossed 5.2 scoreless innings, scattering two hits and striking out three to beat Rutgers (4/19).
2024: Made four starts and 21 appearances as a first year … Finished the year with a 3.39 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 51.2 innings pitched … Recorded four saves, which tied Ashley Miller for first in the Big Ten … Tossed five scoreless innings with eight strikeouts to help the ‘Cats win their first game of the season over Weber State (2/11) … Fired four innings and racked up three strikeouts while holding DePaul to one run to help the Wildcats win their home opener (3/19) … Pitched eight straight scoreless innings across four wins over Ohio State (3/30), Michigan (4/6), Illinois (4/9), and Maryland (4/13) … Threw a season-high six innings while posting four strikeouts in a win over Indiana (5/3) … Tossed a scoreless inning of relief against St. Francis to help Northwestern capture its first win of the Austin Regional (5/17) … Fired three innings to lead the ‘Cats to another Regional win over St. Francis (5/18) … Put up three shutout innings against No. 1 Texas in the final game of the season (5/19).
Career Highs
Innings Pitched....................................................6.0, vs. Indiana (5/3/24)
Strikeouts......................................................8, vs. Weber State (2/11/24)
Fewest Hits Allowed (min. 5 IP)..............2 (2x), last at Rutgers (4/19/25)
Fewest Runs Allowed (min. 5 IP)...................0, last at Rutgers (4/19/25)
At Bats.......................................................2 (2x), last vs. Indiana (5/4/24)
Hits...................................................................1, vs. Ohio State (3/30/24)
Runs.................................................................1, vs. Ohio State (3/30/24)
RBI...................................................................1, vs. Ohio State (3/30/24)
Home Runs......................................................1, vs. Ohio State (3/30/24)
Total Bases......................................................4, vs. Ohio State (3/30/24)
High School: 2022 LCL-Cardinal Player of the Year … Division II Ohioan Advocate Player of the Year … Hit .520 with 15 home runs, and posted a .97 ERA in 109.2 innings pitched as a sophomore … As a junior, hit .605 with 20 home runs, a 2.195 OPS, 31 walks, and only two strikeouts, along with a 1.43 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 117 innings in the circle … First Team All-State in 2021 and 2022 … 2021 Pitcher of the Year … Also has played three seasons of volleyball as an outside and middle hitter … Led her team to two league championships, two district championships, and a regional championship … Plays club softball for Beverly Bandits 18u with head coach Rona Dorsey … Parents are Jackie and Torran Cunningham ... Extra Innings Softball Ranking No 32 in the nation.
Drohan on Cunningham: "Renae has game changing power at the plate and throws a really heavy ball from the mound. She elevates the game and the play of everyone around her."
2024: Made four starts and 21 appearances as a first year … Finished the year with a 3.39 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 51.2 innings pitched … Recorded four saves, which tied Ashley Miller for first in the Big Ten … Tossed five scoreless innings with eight strikeouts to help the ‘Cats win their first game of the season over Weber State (2/11) … Fired four innings and racked up three strikeouts while holding DePaul to one run to help the Wildcats win their home opener (3/19) … Pitched eight straight scoreless innings across four wins over Ohio State (3/30), Michigan (4/6), Illinois (4/9), and Maryland (4/13) … Threw a season-high six innings while posting four strikeouts in a win over Indiana (5/3) … Tossed a scoreless inning of relief against St. Francis to help Northwestern capture its first win of the Austin Regional (5/17) … Fired three innings to lead the ‘Cats to another Regional win over St. Francis (5/18) … Put up three shutout innings against No. 1 Texas in the final game of the season (5/19).
Career Highs
Innings Pitched....................................................6.0, vs. Indiana (5/3/24)
Strikeouts......................................................8, vs. Weber State (2/11/24)
Fewest Hits Allowed (min. 5 IP)..............2 (2x), last at Rutgers (4/19/25)
Fewest Runs Allowed (min. 5 IP)...................0, last at Rutgers (4/19/25)
At Bats.......................................................2 (2x), last vs. Indiana (5/4/24)
Hits...................................................................1, vs. Ohio State (3/30/24)
Runs.................................................................1, vs. Ohio State (3/30/24)
RBI...................................................................1, vs. Ohio State (3/30/24)
Home Runs......................................................1, vs. Ohio State (3/30/24)
Total Bases......................................................4, vs. Ohio State (3/30/24)
High School: 2022 LCL-Cardinal Player of the Year … Division II Ohioan Advocate Player of the Year … Hit .520 with 15 home runs, and posted a .97 ERA in 109.2 innings pitched as a sophomore … As a junior, hit .605 with 20 home runs, a 2.195 OPS, 31 walks, and only two strikeouts, along with a 1.43 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 117 innings in the circle … First Team All-State in 2021 and 2022 … 2021 Pitcher of the Year … Also has played three seasons of volleyball as an outside and middle hitter … Led her team to two league championships, two district championships, and a regional championship … Plays club softball for Beverly Bandits 18u with head coach Rona Dorsey … Parents are Jackie and Torran Cunningham ... Extra Innings Softball Ranking No 32 in the nation.
Drohan on Cunningham: "Renae has game changing power at the plate and throws a really heavy ball from the mound. She elevates the game and the play of everyone around her."