Northwestern University Athletics
No. 8 Wildcats Host Spartans in Wednesday Double-Dip
3/31/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 31, 2009
Northwestern's Michigan State Series Game Notes (PDF Format) 
Northwestern's 2009 Home Promotions
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern returns to the diamond in Big Ten mid-week action Wednesday when it hosts Michigan State in a 2 p.m. doubleheader at Sharon J. Drysdale Field.
The new 2009 conference schedule features three such Wednesday double-dips and only one opponent per weekend. NU's other two mid-week doubleheaders later in the year both will be televised by the Big Ten Network: April 8 at Minnesota and April 15 against Iowa at home.
The Wildcats sit alone on top of the Big Ten standings with a 4-0 record after the first two weeks of play. NU opened the year with a sweep of then-No. 8 Michigan before taking a pair from Penn State last weekend. Illinois is the only other unbeaten program, sitting at 3-0 after the second game of its series with Michigan State was rained out on Sunday. The Spartans enter Wednesday's game in Evanston at 0-3 in the conference.
Junior Lauren Delaney (Jefferson City, Mo./Helias) is the reigning Big Ten Pitcher of the Week, going 3-0 last week with a win over Maryland and two victories at Penn State during Northwestern's Spring Break '09 trip. She fanned 11 Terrapins on Wednesday, then closed the week with a two-hit shutout of the Nittany Lions. The honor is the sixth of her career.
Several other statistical items of note happened during the Wildcats' trip to Washington D.C. and State College, Pa. Senior Tammy Williams (Roscoe, Mo./Osceola) has homered in each of NU's last four games, blasting career home run No. 50 Sunday at Penn State. Sophomore Robin Thompson (Detroit, Mich./Martin Luther King) stole three bases in that Sunday contest to become the first 'Cat with that many steals in a single game since Katie Logan did it March 30, 2004. As a team, Northwestern has hit three home runs in each of its last three contests. Michelle Batts (Bloomingdale, Ill./Glenbard North) had a strong spring break trip, hitting .667 (6-for-9) including a 3-for-3 performance with a home run at Penn State Sunday.
On Monday, Williams was named a top-10 finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. Nationwide fan voting for the honor now is underway; fans can vote for her at www.seniorclassaward.com.
'Cats and Jokes Day
Wednesday is April Fools Day, so come out and enjoy an April Fool's Day party with the `Cats that includes games, jokes and chances to win cool prizes! The forecast is calling for sun and the 50's, so come out on another beautiful spring day in Evanston to support the 'Cats! Click here to see all of NU's 2009 home promotions!
Coming Up
Northwestern's home stand continues this weekend with a pair of games against Indiana on Saturday, April 4, and Sunday, April 5. Both games are scheduled to start at 1 p.m. CT.
The Broadcasts
Northwestern's Wednesday doubleheader against Michigan State will be broadcast live by NU student radio 89.3 FM WNUR. The game also will have a live video webcast via All-Access on NUsports.com. Over the weekend, Saturday's game will be carried by WNUR over the air, while Sunday's game will be broadcast on the internet at sports.wnur.org. All WNUR broadcasts, both over the air and internet only, also can be heard at sports.wnur.org.
For Northwestern's complete game notes package for Wednesday's Michigan State series, download the .pdf at the top of this page.
