Northwestern University Athletics
Busy Week Ahead for Softball Squad
4/9/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 9, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northwestern Wildcats have six games on their schedule this week with a doubleheader at Northern Illinois on Wednesday and two games against Penn State and Ohio State over the weekend at home.
The 'Cats just wrapped up their second weekend of conference play with a sweep of Purdue and a split with Illinois-two teams that swept the 'Cats last season. NU is now 5-1 in Big Ten games, putting them in a tie with Michigan for second. The 5-1 start is the best for the Wildcats since the 1987 season. That year, NU won the Big Ten title and qualified for the NCAA Regional Tournament.
In Friday's game against Purdue, senior Gretchen Barnes (Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) hit a two-run home run. It was the 18th of her career, which ties her with Karen Lemke for the all-time record at Northwestern. Her next round-tripper will give her the record outright.
NU's first opponent of the week is Northern Illinois. NIU is 13-15 this season and 6-3 in the Mid-Atlantic Conference. The Wildcats have won the previous eight meetings between the squads and hold a 25-21-1 all-time advantage.
Last season, Lauren Schwendimann (Tustin, Calif./Foothill) and Brie Brown (Nashville, Tenn./Harpeth Hall) took turn shutting out the Huskies with 8-0 and 3-0 wins in Evanston.
The 'Cats will return to conference action this weekend as they host Penn State (18-17, 4-4) and Ohio State (34-9, 5-3) at Drysdale Field.
The Nittany Lions were on both ends of 2-0 sweeps last weekend, losing two to Minnesota then taking two from Wisconsin. NU leads the series with PSU 25-9 and took both games last year.
The Buckeyes split with Wisconsin and swept No. 25 Minnesota their last time out. OSU has played 43 games already this season, including wins over No. 21 Florida State and No. 24 Baylor. The Buckeyes received 15 votes in the latest NFCA/USA Today Top 25 poll.
NU and OSU have played each other 71 times, with the 'Cats holding a 50-21 advantage. Last season, the Buckeyes edged the 'Cats by one run in both meetings.
Northwestern softball schedule for the week of April 7, 2002
Wed., April 10 * Northern Illinois-DeKalb, Ill./Mary M. Bell Field *3 p.m. (DH)
Fri., April 12 *Penn State-Evanston, Ill./Drysdale Field *3 p.m.
Sat., April 13 *Penn State-Evanston, Ill./Drysdale Field *noon
Sun., April 14 *Ohio State-Evanston, Ill./Drysdale Field *noon (DH)
