April 23, 2002
EVANSTON, ILL. - Northwestern's softball squad (21-14-1, 9-5 Big Ten) will end a 15-game stretch of games played in the state of Illinois this weekend, but not before playing a nonconference doubleheader against neighboring Loyola on Wednesday.
Last week, the 'Cats wrapped up their second 3-1 conference weekend, splitting with No. 12 Michigan and sweeping Michigan State. NU heads into Big Ten play this weekend in fourth place, followed by Minnesota and Wisconsin-this weekend's opponents. The top six teams at the end of the regular season will advance to the Big Ten Tournament in three weeks.
After breaking three school career records last week, the 'Cats are on pace to rewrite two single-season marks this week. Gretchen Barnes (Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) needs one more home run to set a new single-season standard with eight, while Carri Leto (El Cajon, Calif./Valhalla) needs just three more doubles to become the first Wildcat to hit more than 13 in a season.
The Wildcats will begin the week with a doubleheader at home against Loyola. The Ramblers are 8-0 in the Horizon League and 17-18 overall. NU swept Loyola last year in Chicago by scores of 10-2 and 7-4 and tagged the Rambler pitching staff for 20 hit. This will be the 11th and 12th meetings between the two teams, dating back to the 1996 season. NU holds the all-time advantage, 7-3. Loyola's last win came in 1999.
On Friday, NU will leave the state of Illinois for the first time since April 7. The 'Cats play fifth-place Minnesota under the lights in Minneapolis Friday night and again Saturday afternoon.
Minnesota sophomore Piper Martin pitched her first collegiate perfect game last week in a nonconference win over Drake. For her efforts, she named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week. The Minnesota pitching staff has a collective 1.24 ERA, and opposing teams are batting just .193 against them.
The Northwestern/Minnesota series is one of the closest in the Big Ten. The Gophers hold a slight 36-34 advantage, dating back to 1980. However, NU has taken the last four games by a combined score of 16-2.
The 'Cats round out the Big Ten travel schedule in Madison Sunday with a doubleheader against Wisconsin. The Badgers appeared in the NFCA/USA Today Top 25 for three weeks after wins over No. 1 Arizona, then-No. 18 Alabama and then-No. 4 Oklahoma earlier in the season. UW has four wins this season against top 25 teams and received three votes in the latest poll.
The Badgers added softball in 1996 and are 4-10 all-time against the Wildcats. NU won nine of the first 10 meetings, but UW has taken three of the last four, including two last year in Evanston (6-2, 4-0). Last season was also the first NCAA appearance for the Badgers.
Wildcat Softball Schedule for the Week of April 22, 2002
Wed., April 24 *Loyola-Sharon J. Drysdale Field *3 p.m. (DH)
Fri., April 26 *@ Minnesota-Jane Sage Cowles Stadium *6 p.m. (Live stats on www. gophersports.com)
Sat., April 27 *@ Minnesota-Jane Sage Cowles Stadium *noon (Live stats on www. gophersports.com)
Sun., April 28 *@ Wisconsin-Goodman Complex *noon (DH) (WNUR 89.3 FM/www.nusports.com)