Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, April 22
Evanston, Ill.
4 p.m. CT
Northwestern
17-23, 8-7
8
vs
0
Michigan State
22-23, 4-11
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
Michigan State
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
Northwestern
2
0
0
0
6
8
10
0
Photo by: Stephen J. Carrera
Wood, Ellis One-Hit Michigan State in 8-0 Run-Rule Victory
4/22/2016 6:22:00 PM | Softball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern hurlers Kristen Wood and Kenzie Ellis combined on a one-hit shutout and Amy Letourneau sparked a six-run fifth-inning rally with a Roof Shot to lead the Wildcats to an 8-0 (5) run-rule victory over Michigan State Friday at Sharon J. Drysdale Field.
Northwestern now is 17-23 overall, 8-7 in the Big Ten. Michigan State is 22-23 overall, 4-11 in the league.
The two teams resume relations at 1 p.m. CT tomorrow, Saturday, April 23. Prior to the game, NU will host its second-annual "Breakfast at the Ballpark" with a full breakfast spread provided free to students and for $10 to adults. After the game, the Wildcats are staging their 10th-annual Purple Auction in Welsh-Ryan Arena to celebrate the seven-member Senior Class. Admission is $50 for adults and $20 for children 16 and under.
Making her first start in more than a month, Wood started her Senior Weekend in strong fashion with a 1-2-3 top of the first that included two strikeouts. NU then put her on top on the scoreboard with a two-out hit parade in the bottom of the inning. Michigan State starter Kristina Zalewski issued Sabrina Rabin a four-pitch leadoff walk, after which Rabin stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. With two outs, Letourneau strengthed a single into center to put NU on the board before Sammy Nettling singled to move Letourneau to second. Senior Fran Strub followed with a sharp bouncer into center, allowing Letourneau to scamper around for a 2-0 lead before a deep flyout to center ended the inning.
Déjà vu started the second with another 1-2-3 Wood performance followed by a four-pitch walk to Northwestern's leadoff batter, this time Alcy Bush. MSU immediately lifted Zalewski in favor of Dani Goranson, who retired the next three Wildcats to the plate on just three pitches to send the game into the third with the score still 2-0.
The wind Friday was howling in from dead center at a sustained 20 mph, and it robbed Letourneau of a home run in the third. The senior -- who has been on a tear at the plate of late -- got a pitch on the sweet spot and hit a soaring smash toward dead center, but midway through that familiar Letourneau trajectory the ball hit the brakes and began falling straight down into the glove of the waiting center fielder on the warning track.
Michigan State got its first base runner of the game against Wood with a leadoff walk in the top of the fourth, but the catcher Nettling quick cut her down trying to steal. The Spartans notched their first hit off Wood with two outs in the frame, though nothing came of it.
Ellis entered the circle in relief of Wood to start the top of the fifth inning for the Wildcats. Michigan State battled her to load the bases with two outs on a couple of walks and a hit batter. Ellis then bore down, striking out NFCA National Freshman of the Year finalist Ebonee Echols to keep the Spartans off the board.
After surviving its biggest scare of the game, Northwestern decided to simply end it. Krista Williams led off with an infield single, stole second and moved to third on a Rabin single. Rabin immediately stole second base, setting the stage for a pair of NU runs when Morgan Nelson ripped a single back through the middle, doubling the score to 4-0.
Andrea Filler was hit by a pitch to set the stage for a Letourneau shot into history -- a three-run home run she hit so hard that not only did it clear the fence, it sliced its way through the wind and onto the roof of McGaw Hall, officially minting Letourneau as Northwestern's seventh member in the prestigious Roof Club.
Letourneau's shot was her 13th of the season and the 42nd of her career. It was the 10th home run ball to ever reach the roof for a Wildcat.
Michigan State brought Bridgette Rainey into the circle in relief, and Nettling greeted her with an infield single. A Strub fielder's choice ball erased the lead runner, and eventually Strub found herself on second with two outs. Alcy Bush slotted a single perfectly through the left side of the infield and Strub sprinted home to end the game early, 8-0.
Wood's triumphant return saw her pitch 4.0 innings, allowing just the one hit and two walks with five strikeouts. Ellis had an adventurous fifth, but did not allow a hit among two walks and a hit batter. She struck out two and picked up her second save of the year.
Letourneau led NU at the plate with two hits and four runs batted in, giving her 158 RBIs in her career to tie Erin Dyer (2006-09) for sixth on NU's all-time list. Nettling also had two hits, Rabin scored twice and swiped two bases, and Nelson drove in a pair.
••••••
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!
Northwestern now is 17-23 overall, 8-7 in the Big Ten. Michigan State is 22-23 overall, 4-11 in the league.
The two teams resume relations at 1 p.m. CT tomorrow, Saturday, April 23. Prior to the game, NU will host its second-annual "Breakfast at the Ballpark" with a full breakfast spread provided free to students and for $10 to adults. After the game, the Wildcats are staging their 10th-annual Purple Auction in Welsh-Ryan Arena to celebrate the seven-member Senior Class. Admission is $50 for adults and $20 for children 16 and under.
Making her first start in more than a month, Wood started her Senior Weekend in strong fashion with a 1-2-3 top of the first that included two strikeouts. NU then put her on top on the scoreboard with a two-out hit parade in the bottom of the inning. Michigan State starter Kristina Zalewski issued Sabrina Rabin a four-pitch leadoff walk, after which Rabin stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. With two outs, Letourneau strengthed a single into center to put NU on the board before Sammy Nettling singled to move Letourneau to second. Senior Fran Strub followed with a sharp bouncer into center, allowing Letourneau to scamper around for a 2-0 lead before a deep flyout to center ended the inning.
Déjà vu started the second with another 1-2-3 Wood performance followed by a four-pitch walk to Northwestern's leadoff batter, this time Alcy Bush. MSU immediately lifted Zalewski in favor of Dani Goranson, who retired the next three Wildcats to the plate on just three pitches to send the game into the third with the score still 2-0.
The wind Friday was howling in from dead center at a sustained 20 mph, and it robbed Letourneau of a home run in the third. The senior -- who has been on a tear at the plate of late -- got a pitch on the sweet spot and hit a soaring smash toward dead center, but midway through that familiar Letourneau trajectory the ball hit the brakes and began falling straight down into the glove of the waiting center fielder on the warning track.
Michigan State got its first base runner of the game against Wood with a leadoff walk in the top of the fourth, but the catcher Nettling quick cut her down trying to steal. The Spartans notched their first hit off Wood with two outs in the frame, though nothing came of it.
Ellis entered the circle in relief of Wood to start the top of the fifth inning for the Wildcats. Michigan State battled her to load the bases with two outs on a couple of walks and a hit batter. Ellis then bore down, striking out NFCA National Freshman of the Year finalist Ebonee Echols to keep the Spartans off the board.
After surviving its biggest scare of the game, Northwestern decided to simply end it. Krista Williams led off with an infield single, stole second and moved to third on a Rabin single. Rabin immediately stole second base, setting the stage for a pair of NU runs when Morgan Nelson ripped a single back through the middle, doubling the score to 4-0.
Andrea Filler was hit by a pitch to set the stage for a Letourneau shot into history -- a three-run home run she hit so hard that not only did it clear the fence, it sliced its way through the wind and onto the roof of McGaw Hall, officially minting Letourneau as Northwestern's seventh member in the prestigious Roof Club.
Letourneau's shot was her 13th of the season and the 42nd of her career. It was the 10th home run ball to ever reach the roof for a Wildcat.
Michigan State brought Bridgette Rainey into the circle in relief, and Nettling greeted her with an infield single. A Strub fielder's choice ball erased the lead runner, and eventually Strub found herself on second with two outs. Alcy Bush slotted a single perfectly through the left side of the infield and Strub sprinted home to end the game early, 8-0.
Wood's triumphant return saw her pitch 4.0 innings, allowing just the one hit and two walks with five strikeouts. Ellis had an adventurous fifth, but did not allow a hit among two walks and a hit batter. She struck out two and picked up her second save of the year.
Letourneau led NU at the plate with two hits and four runs batted in, giving her 158 RBIs in her career to tie Erin Dyer (2006-09) for sixth on NU's all-time list. Nettling also had two hits, Rabin scored twice and swiped two bases, and Nelson drove in a pair.
••••••
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: Wood, Kristen (2-5)
L: Zalewski, Kristina (10-13)
S: Ellis, Kenzie (2)
Base Running:
CS: Foerster, Lea 1
HBP: Luna, Destinee 1
Batting:
HR: Letourneau, Amy 1
RBI: Nelson, Morgan 2 ; Letourneau, Amy 4 ; Strub, Fran 1 ; Bush, Alcy 1
SH: Williams, Krista 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rabin, Sabrina 2 ; Nelson, Morgan 1 ; Filler, Andrea 1 ; Letourneau, Amy 2 ; Strub, Fran 1 ; Williams, Krista 1
SB: Rabin, Sabrina 2 ; Williams, Krista 1
HBP: Filler, Andrea 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
4
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
2
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballP/1B
/ SoftballIF/C
/ SoftballC
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
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