Jan. 31, 2003
Auburn Box Score
South Florida Box Score
TAMPA, Fla. - Lauren Schwendimann (Tustin, Calif./Foothill) struck out 11 and Brett Nakabayashi (Irvine, Calif./Irvine) and Carri Leto (El Cajon, Calif./Valhalla) collected two hits apiece as the Northwestern softball team opened the 2003 season in style with a 6-1 victory over Auburn. However, the Wildcats came up one run short during their seventh-inning rally in the nightcap, falling to host South Florida 3-2.
Against Auburn, Schwendimann allowed just two hits and four batters to reach base through her first six innings of work. NU jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning thanks to a pair of two-out RBI singles.
Freshman shortstop Ashley Crane (Sammamish, Wash./Eastlake) and senior right fielder Nakabayashi gave Schwendimann all the run support she would need as they staked the 'Cats an early advantage with their run-scoring basehits.
The lead held up until the top of the seventh, when the Wildcats exploded for four insurance runs. Leto singled home Nakabayashi with no one out to push NU's lead to three.
Auburn recorded the next outs, but designated hitter Cindy Muran (Newburry Park, Calif./Newburry Park) brought home two runs with a double to left center. Freshman Jamie Dotson (Santa Ana, Calif./Santa Ana) followed with another double, scoring Muran, to up Northwestern's lead to 6-0.
The Tigers were finally able to get to Schwendimann in the bottom of the seventh, but it was too little, too late. After a lead-off single, Schwendimann stuck out the next two batters. However, Auburn avoided the shutout with a double and an RBI single.
Schwendimann allowed five hits, three of which came in the final inning, while walking only one to go along with the 11 strikeouts. The victory was NU's first season-opening win since 1993 when it defeated St. Mary's 13-3.
In Northwestern's second game of the day, a late rally came up just short as South Florida held on for the 3-2 victory.
Trailing 3-0 entering the the bottom of the seventh, NU mounted a comeback bid. With one out, pinch-hitter Kristen Amegin (W. Sacramento, Calif./Elk Grove) walked. Nakabayashi singled and a wild pitch advanced runners to second and third. A sacrifice fly by Erin Mobley (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill) scored pinch-runner Sheila McCorkle (Costa Mesa, Calif./Mater Dei).
Nakabayshi advanced to third on the flyout and then scored on an RBI single by Leto. The Bulls then brought on relief pitcher Corin Tassio who got Schwendimann to pop up to the shortstop, preserving the victory for USF.
Nakabayashi led Northwestern with three hits, while Mobley added two. Each team recorded seven hits and left eight runners on base.
Freshman pitcher Courtnay Foster (Tucson, Ariz./Sahuaro) held South Florida at bay early on in her first collegiate start. She retired the first seven Bulls in order, including striking out the side in the first inning.
Both teams stranded two runners on base in each of their opportunities in the third in fourth innings. After stranding another two in the top of the fifth, USF finally broke through for two runs in the top of the sixth.
Foster gave up a bases-loaded, two-run single to Holly Groves with one out and was replaced by Brie Brown (Nashville, Tenn./Harpeth Hall). NU prevented any further damage, as Brown induced Rena Rodriguez to hit into a double play.
South Florida added an important insurance run in the top of the seventh as Courtney Lewellen recorded a two-out RBI single that proved to be the game-winner.
Foster struck out seven, walked four and allowed five hits in 5 1/3 innings of work.
Northwestern returns to action at 9 a.m. Eastern time Saturday when it takes on Sam Houston State, followed by a 7 p.m. game against Florida Atlantic.