Northwestern University Athletics
Softball's Tournament Fate to be Decided This Weekend
5/1/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 1, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. - With one weekend left in the Big Ten regular season, the Wildcats control their postseason destiny. One win, and they are guaranteed a spot in the six-team Big Ten Tournament next week. NU can make the tournament with an 0-2 weekend record, but it would need help from Ohio State and Wisconsin along the way.
Iowa comes to town with a 32-16 overall record and a 10-4 Big Ten mark. Its only league losses this season came against No. 12 Michigan, No. 19 Ohio State and Michigan State.
The Hawkeyes are led by 2001 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Kristi Hanks. Hanks is 17-11 this season with 157 strikeouts in just over 175 innings of work. She has picked up the decision in 12 of the Hawkeyes' 14 Big Ten games.
Offensively, Iowa is batting almost .100 points better than its opponents at .311. Kristin Johnson leads the squad with a .373 batting average. Her speed has also contributed to six triples and 27 stolen bases on the year.
NU and Iowa have meet a total of 75 times since the 1977 season. The 'Cats hold a slight 39-36 advantage. Last year, NU played the role of spoiler in Iowa City. In the final series of the season, Iowa needed to sweep the 'Cats in order to win the regular-season title and host the Big Ten Tournament. The Hawkeyes took game one, 3-0, but the 'Cats stole game two, 2-1, dropping Iowa into second place.
Saturday's game is Parents Day at Sharon J. Drysdale Field. Game time is 1 p.m.-a change from the original schedule. On Sunday, the Wildcats will honor their four graduating seniors, Gretchen Barnes (Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor), Katie Gross (Des Moines, Iowa/Herbert Hoover), Rane Gunderson (Minnetonka, Minn./Minnetonka) and Erin Jancic (Houston, Texas/Alief Elsik).
The 'Cats will gear up for the weekend with an evening doubleheader against Illinois-Chicago on Thursday. First pitch is schedule for 5 p.m. at Flames Field in the Chicago Downtown loop.
The Flames are 34-18 and have posted a 3-1 record against Big Ten schools. UIC and NU have met 34 times, dating back to 1976. Last year, NU posted a 7-2 victory over the Flames in the city.
Wildcat's game schedule for the week of April 29, 2002
Thu., May 2 *UIC-Chicago, Ill./Flames Field *5 p.m (DH)
Sat., May 4 *Iowa-Evanston, Ill./Drysdale Field *1 p.m. (Parents Day)
Sun., May 5 *Iowa-Evanston, Ill./Drysdale Field *noon (Senior Day)
