Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
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Schwendimann Fires No-Hitter as 'Cats Win Two
3/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 6, 2003
Ball State Box Score
Hofstra Box Score
PLANT CITY, Fla. - A strong combination of youth and experience on the pitching mound helped lead the Northwestern softball team to a pair of victories at the Speedline Invitational Thursday. Senior Lauren Schwendimann (Tustin, Calif./Foothill) fired the second no-hitter of her career in a 5-1 win over Ball State, while freshman Courtnay Foster (Tucson, Ariz./Sahuaro) struck out a career-high 13 in a 7-2 defeat of Hofstra.
In NU's opener against Ball State, the Cardinals actually managed one more run than they did hits. The Wildcats got on the board first, notching a run in the first inning on a successful squeeze bunt single by Cindy Muran (Newbury Park, Calif./Newbury Park).
The 'Cats added another run in the top of the fourth. After Muran led off with a walk, pinch runner Jesse Wellnitz (Waterloo, Iowa/East) stole second and eventually scored on a single to right field by Kristen Amegin (W. Sacramento, Calif./Elk Grove).
Ball State recorded its only run in the bottom half of the fourth. Following a one-out walk by Jodi Wills, Ruth Hjelmeland's bunt was fielded and thrown away into right field, as Willis came all the way around to score from first.
However, Northwestern responded with three runs in the top of the fifth to put the game away. With the bases loaded, a wild pitch scored both Brett Nakabayashi (Irvine, Calf./Irvine) and Erin Mobley (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill). Pinch hitter Robyn Pettinger (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Fremd) then followed with an RBI single, scoring Carri Leto (El Cajon, Calif./Valhalla).
With only the no-hitter still in doubt entering the bottom of the seventh, Ball State was able to get a pair of runners reach base on a walk and an error, but Schwendimann managed to work her way out of trouble, getting Kris Burdine to ground out on a comebacker to end the game.
The no-hitter was Northwestern's first since Schwendimann accomplished the feat in a five-inning game against Michigan on March 23, 2000. It was the first seven-inning no-hitter since Brooke Siebel shut down Nicholls State on Feb. 5, 1999.
Pettinger and Mobley led the Wildcats with two hits apiece.
In the nightcap, Foster recorded her career high for strikeouts for the second consecutive game after fanning 11 Portland State batters just four days earlier in a 3-0 win.
It took NU a while to get on the scoreboard, as Hofstra held it in check until the top of the fifth inning. Trailing 1-0 following a Pride run in the top of the first, the 'Cats managed a pair of runs in the fifth on RBI singles by Nakabayashi and Leto.
Northwestern put the game away with a five-run rally in the sixth. With two outs and no one on base, Wellnitz made Hofstra pay for back-to-back walks by brining in both runners with a two-run double to right.
Wellnitz would later score on a wild pitch and Nakabayashi came around on a single by Mobley and an error by the left fielder. Mobley would cap NU's scoring by coming home on a throwing error by the catcher. In all, Hofstra committed four errors.
The Pride would record a run in the bottom of the seventh, but it wasn't enough as Foster allowed just three hits.
The Wildcats return to action at 10 a.m. Eastern time Friday morning when they take on North Carolina. NU will also face No. 4 Washington for the third time this season, beginning at 2 p.m.
