Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
No. 6 Alabama
No. 6 Alabama Drops Northwestern, 12-1 (5)
4/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 10, 2010
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Northwestern and Alabama combined to hit six home runs Saturday at the Alabama Softball Complex, but unfortunately it was the Crimson Tide hitting the majority of the blasts in a 12-1 (5) run-rule win over the Wildcats.
Northwestern falls to 16-15 on the year with its loss while Alabama improves to 30-9 with its victory. The game was the Crimson Tide's spring edition of its "Power of Pink" initiative to raise awareness of breast cancer; the Wildcats participated by wearing pink socks, headbands and wristbands as part of their uniforms.
Alabama took the early lead after a one-out single preceded a two-home run surrendered by Northwestern starter Jessica Smith (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon). A walk later in the inning was followed by a second two-run shot to give the Crimson Tide a 4-0 lead after the first frame. Alabama added a third homer to lead off the second to make it a 5-0 game.
In the top of the third, senior Kelly Dyer (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport) put Northwestern on the board with a leadoff home run off Alabama starter Kelsi Dunne, accounting for the fourth home run in just five half innings of play in the game. Dyer's shot was her third of the year and the 21st of her career.
The Crimson Tide made it five home runs in six half innings with a three-run blast in the bottom of the third, prompting head coach Kate Drohan to lift Smith in favor of Lauren Delaney (Jefferson City, Mo./Helias) in the circle. An error, a single and a walk loaded the bases for Alabama with one out before Delaney got a strikeout, but a two-out walk forced home a run to put the game in run-rule territory, 9-1. In the bottom of the fourth, Alabama notched another two-run homer as part of a three-run inning to make it 12-1. NU ended the fourth with a 4-3-6 double play after Alabama's runner at second wandered too far off the base on a groundout.
Emily Haug (Jefferson City, Mo./Helias) worked a leadoff walk in the top of the fifth frame, giving way to pinch runner Lauren Ackerman (St. Louis, Mo./Home schooled). Dyer followed with her second base hit of the game, a single through the left side of the infield to push Ackerman to second. Dunne was able to get a pair of strikeouts, then Emily Allard (Antioch, Calif./Deer Valley) beat out an infield single to load the bases with two down. Dunne got the final out, however, to end the game.
Smith (5-3) took the loss in the game, going 2.1 innings and allowing nine runs (eight earned) on eight hits and one walk with one strikeout. Delaney went 1.2 innings of relief, giving up three runs on four hits and three walks with two strikeouts.
Northwestern and Alabama conclude their series at noon CT tomorrow, Sunday, April 11.
