Northwestern
Loyola (Ill.)
Ramblers Hold Off No. 7 Wildcats, 3-2
4/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 17, 2007
CHICAGO -- No. 7 Northwestern traveled down to Chicago Tuesday afternoon for a midweek game at Loyola (Chicago), succumbing to the Ramblers in a 3-2 decision at the Loyola Softball Complex.
The loss drops the Wildcats to 33-10 on the season, while Loyola improved to 12-14 with the win.
Loyola opened the game's scoring in the bottom of the first inning. After the first two batters of the frame reached on a hit by pitch and a single, they moved up a base on a productive groundout to third. A wild pitch from NU starter Lauren Delaney (Jefferson City, Mo./Helias) and a fielder's choice squeeze bunt brought both Ramblers in to make the score 2-0.
Loyola would add another run in the bottom of the second with a solo home run to take a three-run lead, 3-0.
Northwestern found the scoreboard in the top of the third. Senior Jessica Miller (Elberfeld, Ind./Techumseh) led off with a double into the gap in right-center, then moved to third on a perfect sacrifice bunt from freshman Kelly Dyer (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport). Junior Darcy Sengewald (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way East) then hit a soft little blooper that fell in by the bag at second to drive in Miller and cut the NU deficit to two, 3-1.
Senior Katie Logan (Tempe, Ariz./Corona del Sol) followed Sengewald with an infield single to short, then sophomore Tammy Williams (Roscoe, Mo./Osceola) laced a double to the fence in left to score Sengewald and move Logan to third. A walk from Loyola starter Krista Crosson to Garland Cooper (Mission Viejo, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic) loaded the bases before a fielder's choice grounder to third erased Logan at the plate and a strikeout ended the inning with the score now 3-2.
After surrendering runs in each of the first two innings, Delaney settled down to face the minimum amount of Ramblers in the next four frames, including striking out the side in the fourth and the sixth innings.
In the top half of the seventh, Logan reached base with a fantastic bunt single, but was thrown out at third trying to get an extra base after Williams singled through the right side of the infield. Crosson (5-3) then retired Cooper to end the game.
Delaney took the loss to drop to 15-2, allowing three runs on three hits with eight strikeouts.
Logan and Williams both had two hits in the game for NU.
Northwestern returns to action at 6 p.m. CT Friday, April 20, at Wisconsin. The game will be broadcast live on Northwestern student-radio WNUR 89.3 FM.
