Northwestern University Athletics
'Cats Open Big Ten Tournament Play Against Michigan State
5/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 7, 2003
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EVANSTON, Ill. - It could be argued that the Northwestern softball team has already been in playoff mode for the past two weeks. After accomplishing the task of taking four must-win games, the Wildcats enter the postseason for real Thursday morning. NU, the six seed, opens Big Ten Tournament play against third-seeded Michigan State at 9:30 a.m. in Iowa City, Iowa.
If the Wildcats defeat the Spartans, they will advance to take on second-seeded Michigan at 2:30 p.m. at Pearl Field.
Michigan State (35-15 overall, 13-6 Big Ten) swept its two-game series with Northwestern (32-15, 11-9) during the regular season on March 28 and 29. In frigid temperatures during the opening weekend of Big Ten play, MSU posted 3-0 and 6-3 wins over the 'Cats.
The tournament appearance is the fifth in the school's history for NU and the first since the 2000 season. The Wildcats are 7-6 all-time, having won the Big Ten's first postseason tournament following the 1982 season. Northwestern has made four other appearances since the tournament was reinstated in 1995.
Michigan State is 1-5 in three previous Big Ten Tournament appearances, the most recent coming in 1999. The Spartans and Wildcats have never met in conference tournament play.
The 'Cats earned the sixth and final berth in the tournament after posting two-game sweeps at Iowa and at home against Illinois last weekend. MSU moved up to No. 3 after sweeping Big Ten-leading Michigan a week ago.
The winner of the tournament earns the Big Ten's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
