Northwestern University Athletics
The 2000 Softball Season in Review
5/26/2000 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 26, 2000
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northwestern softball team, bolstered by several fresh faces, put together a solid 30-26 campaign that included its first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1987.
The Wildcats were in the hunt for the Big Ten's regular-season championship until the season's final day before settling for fourth place. Their 12-6 record in conference play earned the 'Cats a trip to Iowa City for the Big Ten Tournament where they split four games. As a result, NU advanced to the six-team NCAA Regional in Norman, Okla., where they Wildcats sandwiched wins over Arkansas and Harvard between a pair of losses to No. 13 Oregon State.
The Wildcats made a habit out of beating the nation's best in 2000, with the highlight coming March 22 when they knocked off top-ranked Washington, 4-1. Northwestern carryied that momentum into the Big Ten season, where a perfect game by freshman hurler Lauren Schwendimann highlighted a series sweep of No. 11 Michigan. Later, the Wolverines would go on to win the Big Ten Tournament title.
Junior designated player Brooke Siebel was named the 2000 Big Ten Player of the Year, hitting .446 with six home runs and 20 RBIs in 18 Big Ten Conference games. Siebel is only the second Wildcat to earn the honor, joining Lisa Ishikawa who won the inaugural award in 1985.
Several other Wildcats also earned postseason honors. Sophomore centerfielder Erin Jancic, who led the team with 37 RBIs, and senior first baseman Jenn Shull earned first-team All-Mideast Region honors, while Schwendimann captured second-team honors. Jancic, Schwendimann and freshman utility player Alyson Schulz also earned second-team All-Big Ten accolades.
