Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Minnesota
Minnesota Sweeps Twinbill From NU
4/20/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 20, 2003
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
EVANSTON, Ill. - Minnesota came into Sharon J. Drysdale Field Sunday and acted like the bully who took all the Easter eggs away from the other kids. Piper Marten played the role of lead bully for the Golden Gophers, pitching all 14 innings and allowing only one run as Minnesota swept a doubleheader from Northwestern, 1-0 and 3-1.
The teams entered the day tied for fifth in the Big Ten with Penn State, but Minnesota took charge to improve to 32-15-1 overall and 8-6 in conference play. The Wildcats fall to 26-15 and 7-9 with the pair of losses.
After dropping two games at Illinois earlier in the weekend, including a 12-1 loss Saturday, Minnesota did what it needed to with its backs against the wall.
Courtnay Foster (Tucson, Ariz./Sahuaro), who has become the official poster child for the tough-luck loss, was snake-bitten again in the opener. She allowed just three hits while striking out seven and walking only one. Friday, Foster (11-8) took the loss in a 4-2 nine-inning defeat at the hands of Wisconsin, despite striking out a career-high 16.
The Golden Gophers got the only run of game one in the second inning, thanks to a two-out rally. With no one on and two away, Foster hit Rachel Keeney with a pitch. Keeney moved up to third on a basehit by Marten and a throwing error by NU shortstop Ashley Crane (Sammamish, Wash./Eastlake). The 'Cats then elected to intentionally walk Jordanne Nygren to load the bases. Keeney came into score on a passed ball to account for the game's lone tally.
While Marten allowed just two Northwestern hits, the Wildcats were unable to cash in on the five walks she allowed. Despite only the two hits, NU stranded 10 baserunners in the contest, including two apiece in the first and sixth innings and three in the fifth. The 'Cats had the leadoff batter on base in five of the seven innings, but couldn't convert.
Miscues again haunted the Wildcats in the nightcap. Three errors in the game, including two in the bottom of the second inning, allowed Minnesota to score all of its runs in the frame.
Stefanie Watt reached on an error by Crane to lead off the inning. Keeney followed by attempting to sacrifice bunt, but third baseman Cindy Muran (Newbury Park, Calif./Newbury Park) fielded the ball and threw wildly to second in an attempt to cut down Watt. Watt got spiked on the play, opening a large gash in her leg, prompting a 10-minute delay.
Stephanie Sward pinch ran for Watt, but was cut down at third on a bunt by Melissa Murnane. With one away, Marten executed a sacrifice bunt, advancing runners to second and third. Northwestern pitcher Lauren Schwendimann (Tustin, Calif./Foothill) then intentionally walked Nygren for the second time on the day, loading the bases. Veronica Roberts made the 'Cats pay, as she followed with a two-run single through the right side of the infield. Angie Recknor added another RBI single, as the Gophers took a 3-0 lead.
Northwestern loaded the bases in the top of the third, but Marten got Jamie Dotson (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill) to ground out to short and end the threat.
The 'Cats finally got on the board in their 13th attempt of the afternoon. Erin Mobley (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill) led off the sixth inning with a single. Muran reached on an error by Keeney, Minnesota's shortstop, giving the 'Cats runners at first and second. The already wacky game got even wackier when Dotson followed with a line shot to the right side. The ball struck Muran, but the umpires ruled that no Gopher had an attempt to make a play on the ball, allowing the result of the play. Mobley scored from second on the play, cutting NU's deficit to 3-1.
With runners at first and second and no one out, Northwestern's shot at a big inning was squelched when Robyn Pettinger (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Fremd) grounded into a double play and Sheila McCorkle (Costa Mesa, Calif./Mater Dei) struck out.
The 'Cats went down in order in the top of the seventh. Schwendimann took the loss, falling to 9-5. Marten improved to 17-9 with the two victories. NU outhit Minnesota 6-4, led by two hits by Mobley.
Northwestern steps outside Big Ten play at 3 p.m. Wednesday when it travels to Loyola-Chicago for a doubleheader.
