Northwestern Outduels San Diego State in Extras, 3-0 (8)

2/23/2018 8:48:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – For the second time this season, Northwestern and San Diego State dueled into extra innings, and for the second time this year the Wildcats broke through in the top of the eighth to earn a victory, this time topping the Aztecs, 3-0 (8), Friday at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.

Northwestern now is 6-4 on the season with the victory while San Diego State's loss snaps a three-game winning streak for the Aztecs (4-9). On the season's Opening Night at the Kajikawa Classic February 9, NU earned a 7-6 (8) win over SDSU.

The Wildcats nearly put the game's first run on the board in the top of the second. Morgan Nelson led off with a booming double to center and moved to third when Kenna Wilkey reached via error. NU got aggressive on the base paths, resulting in Nelson being thrown out for the first out of the inning. Lily Novak later beat out an infield single but San Diego State ended the rally one batter later with a 6-3 double play.

San Diego State put two runners aboard in the bottom of the second via walks, but Sammy Nettling erased one with a beautiful throw on a steal attempt before Mac Dunlap charged to make a tremendous play on a slap, ending the inning with a runner at second.

Dunlap and Sabrina Rabin singled in the 3^rd and Rachel Lewis was hit by a two-out pitch to load the bases, prompting San Diego State to lift starter Marissa Morena for Alex Formby, who pitched 7.0 innings and took the loss the last time these two teams met. Formby was able to get Nelson to fly out to leave the bases full of Wildcats.

It was Northwestern's turn to throw a runner out at the plate to end the bottom of the third. With two outs, SDSU got a single then a deep double that one-hopped the fence in right. Brooke Marquez tracked it down and fired to the relay Lewis, who turned and threw home for Sammy Nettling to apply the tag and end the inning.

Morgan Newport entered the circle in relief of Ellis to start the bottom of the fourth. She gave up a double and walk, but grabbed a comebacker herself before a crucial check-swing strikeout left two Aztecs in scoring position in a scoreless game.

Both pitchers went full shutdown mode, with Newport retiring the side in order in the sixth and seventh innings with a little help from corner infielders Dunlap and Novak in the sixth.

Just as it did two weeks ago in Arizona, Northwestern's offense broke through big in the top of the eighth. With Rabin at second thanks to the international tiebreak rule, Marissa Panko laid down a bunt and SDSU tried to get Rabin at third, but the throw was late. Panko stole second before Lewis sent a fly ball into shallow left field. The fielder had been playing the powerful Lewis near the fence and came racing in, but her dive was too late to make the catch. Rabin scampered home and Lewis stood at second with an RBI double.

Wilkey kept the scoring going with a sacrifice fly before Lily Novak reached base and helped get Lewis home with an inventive pickle between first and second. Lewis crossed the plate before a dancing Novak was tagged out on the basepaths, making it a 3-0 score.

Wilkey entered the circle in relief in the bottom of the eighth and mowed down the Aztecs to end the game.

Ellis went 3.0 innings in the start, allowing no runs on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Newport (2-1) got the win in relief, giving up no runs on two hits and a walk with four strikeouts. Wilkey picked up her first-collegiate save with a scoreless eighth and two Ks.

At the plate, Rabin, Nelson and Dunlap all picked up two hits apiece.

Northwestern is back in action later tonight at 10:30 p.m. CT/8:30 p.m. PT against Long Beach State.