March 3, 2000
EVANSTON, Ill. - Freshman Lauren Schwendimann (Tustin, Calif./Foothill) fired a two-hitter and struck out a career-high 13 batters as Northwestern opened play at the Hillenbrand Invitational with a 4-0 victory over Saint Peter's. After some early wildness, Schwendimann settled down and overpowered the Peacocks over the final five innings. She allowed only two singles (one in the second inning, one in the fifth) and struck out at least one hitter in all seven innings, including striking out the side in the sixth. Northwestern got on the board in the second inning, as freshman Robyn Pettinger (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Fremd) laced an RBI-triple to score Gretchen Barnes (Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor). Sophomore Rane Gunderson (Minnetonka, Minn./Minnetonka) manufactured the team's second run in the fifth, singling with one out and stealing second and third before coming across on a base hit by Mikie Chambers (Country Club Hills, Ill./Hillcrest). The 'Cats put the game away in the sixth, as Erin Jancic (Houston, Texas/Alief Elsik) tripled home Tami Jones (West Hills, Calif./El Camino Real) and scored on an Alyson Schulz (San Diego, Calif./Serra) single.
Northwestern resumes play tonight, taking on No. 2 Arizona (20-1) at 9 p.m. CT.