Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
No. 6 Oklahoma
Erin Dyer Solo Shot Shuns No. 6 Oklahoma, 1-0
3/8/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 8, 2009
Box Score
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Senior Erin Dyer (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport) hit a two-out, two-strike solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning Sunday to defeat No. 6 Oklahoma, 1-0, at The Preview presented by Worth.
Dyer's blast was somewhat of a revival of her previous heroics on the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium field during the 2006 Women's College World Series when she clubbed a two-out, two-strike, game tying homer in the bottom of the seventh of NU's first round game. Her shot also made a brilliant performance by junior Lauren Delaney (Jefferson City, Mo./Helias) stand up.
Delaney (12-6) earned the shutout, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out seven.
Northwestern improves to 13-7 on the year with the victory while Oklahoma falls to 17-6 with its loss. NU came out of The Preview with the best record among the field, finishing 3-1 against Tennessee's 2-2 and Oklahoma's 1-3.
Northwestern collected hits off Oklahoma starter Kirsten Allen in the first two innings, but did not score any runs. Freshman Adrienne Monka (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Rancho Cucamonga) ripped a ground-rule double with two outs in the first, while both Nicole Pauly (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) and Kelly Dyer (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport) singled in the bottom of the second.
Delaney did not allow a hit through the first 3.1 innings of the game. Oklahoma got its first base runner on a two-out walk in the third, but senior catcher Erin Dyer gunned her down trying to steal second to end the frame. Oklahoma got its first hits of the game in the top of the fourth with back-to-back one-out singles before senior shortstop Tammy Williams (Roscoe, Mo./Osceola) made a great play deep in the hole to force the lead runner at third and Delaney coaxed a pop up.
Michelle Batts (Bloomingdale, Ill./Glenbard North) drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the fourth, then was replaced at first by pinch runner Aly Euler (River Forest, Ill./Oak Park River Forest). Pauly then was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second with no outs, but the inning against ended there with no runs across.
Oklahoma loaded the bases with a two-out rally in the top of the fifth before sophomore right fielder Kelly Quinn (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North) tracked down a deep fly ball in front of the fence to keep the Sooners off the board.
Erin Dyer then busted out her two-strike dramatics with two gone in the bottom of the sixth to put NU on top, 1-0. Dyer's blast was her sixth of the season and the 35th of her career, giving her sole possession of third place all-time at NU.
Thompson collected two hits in the ball game for the Wildcats.
Northwestern is off next weekend for finals week before opening Big Ten play against No. 9 Michigan at noon CT Saturday, March 21, at Sharon J. Drysdale Field. The game will be televised live on the Big Ten Network.
