Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Hawaii
NU's Season Ends With 1-0 Loss to Hawaii
5/16/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 16, 2003
AUSTIN, Texas - There must be something about Northwestern softball and double-digit extra-inning games in the postseason. After playing games that went 18 innings and 12 innings at the Big Ten Tournament last weekend, the Wildcats endured an 11-inning contest against Hawaii Friday night. Unfortunately for the 'Cats, the Wahine got a game-winning, two-out RBI single from Trisha Ramos in the bottom of the 11th for a 1-0 win, ending NU's season in the process.
Lauren Schwendimann (Tustin, Calif./Foothill), who pitched the final 5.1 innings in the previous game was the tough-luck loser for Northwestern, tossing all 10.2 innings. The senior allowed seven hits, while striking out six and walking two to complete her Wildcat career. Melissa Coogan went the distance for the Wahine, surrendering nine hits, striking out one and walking three.
The 'Cats finished the season 36-19 after dropping their second contest of the regional tournament. Hawaii improved to 39-19 and will face the winner of Friday's final game between Arizona State and LSU.
NU loaded the bases in the top of the first on a basehit and a pair of walks, but Wahine starter Melissa Coogan got Robyn Pettinger (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Fremd) to ground out to her counterpart at short to end the threat.
The 'Cats got a runner to third in the fourth inning and runners to second and third in the sixth, but were unable to convert.
Northwestern had a great chance to take the lead in the top of the seventh inning as Sheila McCorkle (Costa Mesa, Calif./Mater Dei) reached on an error to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a single by Erin Mobley (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill). Brett Nakabayashi (Irvine, Calif./Irvine) followed with a bunt attempt, but Hawaii first baseman Stacey Porter snared the ball before it hit the dirt, threw to first to double off Mobley and then on to second to get McCorkle for the rare triple play.
The Wahine got a two-out runner to second base on an error in the bottom of the seventh, but Schwendimann got Stacey Ritter to ground out to Pettinger at short on a beautiful backhanded play deep in the hole.
After having the next 11 batters retired in order following the triple play, the Wildcats strung together three straight singles to load the bases with two away in the top of the 11th. However, Coogan got J.C. Kira (Honolulu, Hawaii/Saint Francis) to ground out to short to keep the game scoreless.
With one out in the bottom of the 11th, Porter doubled to left field and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Schwendimann struck out Kate Judd for the second out, but Ramos hit a solid grounder up the middle past Schwendimann for the game-winner.
The Wildcats stranded 11 baserunners, compared to nine for the Wahine. Mobley led Northwestern with three hits.
NU's 36 wins were the school's most since the 1995 squad won 38 games, and the program's fifth-most ever.
