Feb. 28, 2003
Oregon State Box Score
California Box Score
FULLERTON, Calif. - If anyone didn't realize that the Northwestern softball team can play with and defeat some of the top teams in the country, Friday's performance should remove any doubt. With identical 4-3 victories over defending national champion and sixth-ranked California, in addition to No. 17 Oregon State, the 'Cats started the Worth Invitational with a 2-0 record.
The Wildcats opened the day with a 4-3 win over Oregon State, as Erin Mobley (Tustin, Calif./Foothill) drove in the winning run with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning. Mobley's two-out basehit to right field made a winner out of Brie Brown (Nashville, Tenn./Harpeth Hall), who did not allow a hit in her two innings of relief.
NU scored once in the second inning and two more times in the fourth on RBI singles by Ashley Crane (Sammamish, Wash./Eastlake) and J.C. Kira (Honolulu, Hawaii/Saint Francis) to take a 3-0 lead. Wildcat starter Lauren Schwendimann (Tustin, Calif./Foothill) was cruising along until the top of the fifth inning when she retired the first two outs. However, after back-to-back runners reached base, Beaver shortstop Kelly Petersen tied the game with a three-run home run.
But the 'Cats rallied back to tally the winning run in the sixth. Mobley's game-winning hit scored Crane and Brown retired the Beavers in order in the bottom half of the inning.
Northwestern outhit Oregon State 8-4 in the contest. Kira collected two hits and Jessie Wellnitz (Waterloo, Iowa/East) scored twice to lead the Wildcats.
In the nightcap, NU jumped on Golden Bear starting pitcher Jen Deering for three runs in the top of the first inning. Brett Nakabayashi (Irvine, Calif./Irvine) led off the game with a walk and eventually scored on a RBI single by Leto. One batter later, Cindy Muran (Newbury Park, Calif./Newbury Park) smacked her first home run of the season to give the 'Cats a 3-0 advantage.
California got one run back in the bottom half of the first and then tied the game in the fifth on a two-run home run by Veronica Nelson. The Bears had two runners reach base in the bottom of the seventh with only one out, but Courtnay Foster (Tucson, Ariz./Sahuaro) stuck out the final two batters to send the game to extra innings.
Nakabayashi started the top of the eighth on second base and moved to third on a bunt by Mobley, who reached first on an error by pitcher Kristina Thorson. Leto followed with an RBI sacrifice fly to give NU the 4-3 lead.
In the bottom half of the inning, California had a runner at third with one out following a sacrifice bunt, but Foster struck out the next two batters to end the game and give the Wildcats their second win over the Bears in the last two seasons.
Foster struck out nine while scattering eight hits in earning the complete-game victory. Thorson stuck out 10 in seven innings of relief for the Bears. The two wins improve Northwestern's record to 7-3 overall.
The 'Cats will have another opportunity to knock off two ranked opponents Saturday when they take on No. 4 Washington at 10 a.m. Pacific time, and host and seventh-ranked Cal State Fullerton at 4 p.m.