Friday, February 12
Tempe, Ariz.
10 a.m. CT/9 a.m. MT
Northwestern
1-0
15
vs
3
UC Riverside
0-1
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3
4
5
R
H
E
Northwestern
2
7
6
0
0
15
10
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UC Riverside
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2
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5
2
Photo by: Stephen J. Carrera
NU Sizzles in Season-Opener over UC Riverside, 15-3 (5)
2/12/2016 11:00:00 AM | Softball
TEMPE, Ariz. - Northwestern launched itself into the 2016 season Friday morning at the Kajikawa Classic, using a seven-run second inning and a six-run third frame to blast past UC Riverside in run-rule fashion, 15-3 (5).
Northwestern starts the season 1-0 with the victory while UC Riverside drops to 0-1 in 2016. The Wildcats return to action at 3 p.m. CT/2 p.m. MT against Virginia (2-0) at the Kajikawa Classic.
Northwestern and Riverside each built nearly identical rallies in the first inning, but the Wildcats' two-out line drive defense was the difference in giving NU an early lead.
The Wildcats' 2016 season started with a marathon at-bat courtesy of reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year Sabrina Rabin, who drew a 10-pitch walk to reach base immediately. After swiping second, she moved to third when freshman Morgan Nelson flew out to medium-deep right field for a productive first at-bat of her career. Senior Andrea Filler joined Rabin on base with a walk of her own, then also stole second to give the Wildcats runners at second and third. One out later, sophomore Sammy Nettling drove a full-count offering over the head of the third baseman to put NU on top 2-0 via a double.
UC Riverside counter-punched right away in the bottom of the first, putting its first two runners aboard and eventually getting them to second and third with no outs. NU starter Amy Letourneau got a strikeout and a ground out before loading the bases, then Filler sprinted to her right to reach out and glove a line drive, keeping NU on top heading to the second.
Seizing on that momentum, Northwestern broke the game open quickly in the second. Junior Alcy Bush was hit by a pitch to begin the inning, then Brooke Marquez laid down such a perfect sacrifice bunt that the throw sailed itself into right field. Krista Williams then drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. With the lineup flipped, head coach Kate Drohan lifted the speedy Rabin for the powerful Brianna LeBeau, and LeBeau LeDelivered a two-run single to center.
UC Riverside elected to lift its starter Tayler Misfeldt in favor of Kaylynn Pierce, and Nelson swung at the first pitch thrown to register the first hit and first RBI of her career. Next, Filler drove a pitch deep over the fence in center for a three-run home run and an 8-0 Northwestern lead.
The inning continued after the homer with a Letourneau walk. Fran Strub flexed in to run for her and later came in to score on a Bush single, completing a seven-run frame with a 9-0 Northwestern lead.
Riverside got on the board with a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the second to bring the game back under run-rule territory, but that did not last long. In the top of the third, Rabin reached on a perfect bunt single, then stole second for the second time, moving to third when the throw got away for an error. Nelson drew a walk of her own, then Filler fileted another three-run home run to make it a 12-2 game.
The blasts were the 27th and 28th of Filler's college career and the 19th and 20th of her Northwestern career.
After the home run, Letourneau doubled, Bush walked and Marquez was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and pinch hitter Aubrie May unloaded them with a three-run double, pushing Northwestern's lead out to 15-2 with a six-run frame.
Again Riverside fought back, this time scratching out a run in the bottom of the third.
The explosion of scoring abated at that point, and freshman Kaley Winegarner entered the game in the bottom of the fifth to pitch. She retired the side in order to finish off the resounding victory.
Letourneau (1-0) allowed three runs on five hits and two walks with a strikeout to earn the win in the circle.
Nine different Wildcats recorded Northwestern's 10 base hits, with only Filler and her two home runs having multiple. She finished the game with a career-high six RBIs and a career-high three runs scored. Rabin had three runs and a pair of steals, May drove in three, LeBeau brought home two and Nettling had a two-run double.Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Letourneau, Amy (1-0)
L: Misfeldt,Tayler (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Letourneau, Amy 1 ; Nettling, Sammy 1 ; May, Aubrie 1
HR: Filler, Andrea 2
RBI: LeBeau, Brianna 2 ; Nelson, Morgan 1 ; Filler, Andrea 6 ; Nettling, Sammy 2 ; Bush, Alcy 1 ; May, Aubrie 3
SH: Marquez, Brooke 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rabin, Sabrina 3 ; Nelson, Morgan 2 ; Filler, Andrea 3 ; Letourneau, Amy 1 ; Bush, Alcy 2 ; Marquez, Brooke 2 ; Williams, Krista 1 ; Strub, Fran 1
SB: Rabin, Sabrina 2 ; Nelson, Morgan 1 ; Filler, Andrea 1
HBP: Bush, Alcy 1 ; Marquez, Brooke 1
Batting:
2B: Curtan,Jenna 1
HR: Curtan,Jenna 1
RBI: Curtan,Jenna 2 ; Ploesch,Courtnie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Curtan,Jenna 1 ; Harris,Haley 1 ; Rodriguez,Hannah 1
SB: Richard,Madeline 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
3
H
2
RBI
6
AB
2
R
3
H
1
RBI
0
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
IF
/ SoftballIF/OF
/ Softball
P/1B
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballIF/C
/ Softball
C
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
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