April 17, 2002
CHICAGO, Ill. - It was the tale of two teams in Northwestern's midweek doubleheader against No. 17 DePaul. In Game 1, the Wildcats committed five errors and managed only two hits in a 9-1 five-inning loss to the Blue Demons. In Game 2, a completely different NU squad took the field, beating DePaul 6-1 and setting three school career records in the process.
In the nightcap, Erin Jancic (Houston, Texas/Alief Elsik) doubled to left center in the fourth to secure her position atop NU's career doubles list. She later came around to score her 106th career run, which gives her three NU all-time records -- she broke the RBI record earlier in the season.
Gretchen Barnes (Flossmoor, ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) led off the fifth with her 19th career home run, replacing the 17-year-old school record in that category.
The two record-setting hits were only two of 10 NU tagged All-America pitcher Sarah Martz for.
The 'Cats jumped on the Blue Demons early in Game 2, as Brett Nakabayashi (Irvine, Calif./Irvine) crossed home on a fielders choice by Lauren Schwendimann (Tustin, Calif./Foothill) in the top first inning.
NU went up 2-1 when Schwendimann, hitting in the clean-up position for the third time this year, hit a solo shot to right center. The home run was the second of the junior's career.
The 'Cats doubled their lead on Jancic's record-setting double and another RBI by Schwendimann.
Brie Brown (Nashville, Tenn./Harpeth Hall) picked up the win, pitching five strong innings and allowing just one run. Freshman pitcher Stephanie Elliott (Goleta, Calif./Dos Pueblos) made her first appearance of the year, coming in to close out the win in the sixth. The right-hander gave up no runs and one hit, while striking out one and issuing one walk.
The win gives the 'Cats three victories over top 25 clubs this season. They also have defeated then-No. 8 California and then-No. 25 South Florida.
The first game of the twinbill was over by the second inning. The 'Cats committed five errors in the first two innings, as the Blue Demons scored nine runs on just eight hits.
Schwendimann silenced DePaul after the second, but it was too late. NU managed a run in the third when Carri Leto (El Cajon, Calif./Valhalla) doubled in Nakabayashi, but that was as close as the score would get.
NU is next in action this weekend with single games against No. 12 Michigan Friday and Saturday, and a doubleheader with Michigan State on Sunday. All games are at Sharon J. Drysdale Field.