Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Georgia
Softball Splits For Third Day in a Row
2/9/2000 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 9, 2000
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northwestern softball team capped a 3-3 weekend by splitting its final two games at the Louisville Slugger Invitational in Tampa, Fla. The Wildcats defeated Florida International for the second time, 9-3, in the opener and lost to Georgia, 5-3, in the nightcap.
In Sunday's first game, Northwestern jumped on the Golden Panthers with three runs in the first inning. Brett Nakabayashi (Irvine, Calif./Irvine) singled to lead off the game. After an error put runners on the corners, Tami Jones (West Hills, Calif./El Camino Real) cracked an RBI-single and Erin Jancic (Houston, Texas/Alief Elsik) followed with a two-run single to put Northwestern ahead, 3-0.
Florida International posted single runs in the third and fifth innings to draw within 3-2, but Northwestern responded with three more runs in its half of the fifth. Mikie Chambers (Country Club Hills, Ill./Hillcrest) and Jones opened the inning with consecutive singles. Chambers beat the throw on Jancic's sacrifice attempt and the 'Cats had the bases loaded with nobody out. Jenn Shull (San Jose, Calif./Presentation) followed with a base hit and Alyson Schultz (San Diego, Calif./Serra) capped the inning with a two-run single to give Northwestern a 6-2 lead.
Northwestern put the game away with three more runs in the sixth courtesy of RBI-singles by Chambers, Jancic and Shull. Freshman Brie Brown (Nashville, Tenn./Harputh Hall) went the distance for NU, walking two and striking out four to improve to 3-1 on the year.
In the nightcap, Georgia used three walks and two infield hits to score four runs in the second inning and then held on for a 5-3 win.
Northwestern battled back from the early deficit, scoring three times in the fifth. Shull capped the inning with a two-run single. After Georgia added a run in the sixth to push the lead to 5-3, Northwestern had one last chance in the seventh by loading the bases with two outs on a single and two hit batsmen, but pinch-hitter Cindy Muran (Newbury Park, Calif./Newbury Park) grounded to second to end the game.
Northwestern returns to action on Friday, Feb. 18 at the Florida Classic in Gainesville. The Wildcats will take on the host Gators in a double-header at 3 p.m.
