Northwestern University Athletics
April Showers Suspend NU, OSU in Second Inning
4/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Saturday's game between Northwestern and Ohio State has been suspended in the bottom of the second with the Wildcats on top, 4-3. The two teams will resume the contest at 11 a.m. CT tomorrow, Sunday, April 26 prior to the regularly scheduled series finale.
Senior Day ceremonies will take place between the two games.
Here's what happened Saturday before April showers halted the game: In the top of the first, Ohio State took the game's first lead with a two-out, two-run home run, eventually stretching its edge to 3-0. Olivia Duehr (Antioch, Ill./Antioch) entered the circle in relief with two outs in the frame, and got the final out to send things to the Wildcats' first at-bats -- where NU immediately tied the game.
Sabrina Rabin (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) walked to begin the rally, then stole second. Later, with two outs, Sammy Nettling (Tucson, Ariz./Canyon del Oro) drew a walk to join Rabin on base. Brianna LeBeau (Worth, Ill./H.L. Richards) entered the game as a pinch hitter and hit a towering fly ball to center that confused the fielders to the point it fell in between a triangle of Buckeyes for a two-run double. Julia Kuhn (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South) then singled to right to bring LeBeau sliding home to knot the score, 3-3.
Ohio State put runners at second and third with one out in the top of the second before Fran Strub (Coralville, Iowa/Clear Creek Amana) made an outstanding inning-ending play in left. After entering the game as a defensive replacement when Duehr moved into the circle, Strub was patrolling left when a shallow fly came her way. She dove forward and caught the ball with the glove on the grass in such unbelievable fashion that the runner at third already had taken off for the plate. Strub calmly tossed to senior Anna Edwards (La Canada, Calif./La Canada) at third to double her off and end the inning.
Edwards led off the bottom of the second with a walk and then stole second base. One out later, Rabin beat out an infield single and senior Andrea DiPrima (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) singled to center to load the bases. Andrea Filler (Fort Wayne, Ind./Bishop Dwenger) then received a walk to push Edwards home and give NU the lead, 4-3.
At that moment, a light drizzle turned into a persistent rain, sending the tarp crew onto the field and the game into a delay that will last until 11 a.m. Sunday morning.
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