Wildcats Narrowly Fall to No. 19 Sun Devils, 2-1

3/6/2016 1:47:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

FULLERTON, CALIF. – Northwestern concluded the Judi Garman Classic at Cal State Fullerton against No. 19 Arizona State, and while the Wildcats pitching and defense were much improved Sunday during what proved to be a tough weekend, NU was unable to find the big hit on offense in a narrow 2-1 defeat.

Northwestern now is 7-12 overall on the season. Arizona State is 17-5.

Northwestern has next week off from competition for winter quarter finals before returning to the field March 18-20 at the USF Under Armour Showcase in Clearwater, Fla.

Arizona State notched a pair of leadoff singles in the bottom of the first before Northwestern's pitching and defense took over, continuing a trend that started the night before against Cal State Fullerton. Senior starter Amy Letourneau dominated the next Sun Devil with a three-pitch strikeout, LeBeau dove to knock down a liner at first for an out, then a lazy Sunday fly ball to left ended the threat.

In the top of the second, Letourneau, Sammy Nettling and Brooke Marquez all singled to load the bases with one out, but Arizona State's Kelsey Kessler similarly bore down to retire the next two Wildcats to the plate.

Arizona State took the game's first lead in the bottom of the second with a pinch hit solo home run, but Northwestern would have none of it. With two outs in the top of the third, Andrea Filler put lift on a well-hit ball that rode the day's blustery breeze over the wall in left field to knot the game, 1-1. Filler's shot was her fifth of the year, her 23^rd as a Wildcat and her 31^st overall in college. Letourneau nearly made it back-to-back jacks with a double off the wall; she would end the frame still at second.

The Sun Devils took the lead back with a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the third, then NU put runners at first and second with two outs in the top of the fourth on Marquez and Marissa Panko singles. Sabrina Rabin followed with a single over the head of the shortstop, but the ASU left fielder was prepared, racing up to corral the ball and fire home in time to get Marquez and end the inning.

Arizona State threatened again in the fourth, getting runners to second and third with one out. Letourneau notched a strikeout for the second out, then Panko at third leaped HIGH in the air to glove a one-hopper destined for left, landing and settling before firing to first to end the inning.

Marquez made a bid to put Northwestern back on top in the sixth with a deep fly ball that was caught at the wall in left. In the bottom half, Arizona State again got a runner to third before yet another strong play on the infield – this one from Filler – stranded her.

In the top of the seventh, Rabin beat out a one-out single. It was NU's 10^th hit of the game, but it would be the last.

Letourneau pitched largely well in the loss, dropping to 3-6 on the year despite allowing just two runs on seven hits and a walk with six strikeouts against NU's top-20 opponents.

At the plate, Letourneau had a couple of hits as did Rabin, Nettling and Marquez.