April 21, 2005
Northwestern Game Notes in PDF Format
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- Following two weekends of road Big Ten softball, No. 15 Northwestern returns home to Sharon J. Drysdale Field to take on a pair of offensive opponents in Ohio State and Penn State.
The Wildcats recently cracked the 30-win plateau for the third-consecutive season and were riding a 14-game winning streak until it was snapped by a loss at UIC Wednesday night. The streak was the second-longest in school history.
NU is in end-of-the-season form here in the middle of the schedule, having already broken seven single-season or career school records. At least one Northwestern offensive record has falling in each of the Wildcats' last seven games, and many more are within striking distance this weekend.
While the 'Cats' bats are shattering benchmark after benchmark, it is the NU pitching staff that will be tested this weekend. Ohio State enters the weekend with the 11th-ranked scoring offense in the country, while Penn State features some of the best hitters in the Conference. Nittany Lion Ashley Esparza's .426 batting average trails only Northwestern's Garland Cooper (.448) as the Big Ten's best.
The Buckeyes bring the Conference's best batting average (.331) to Evanston along with the nation's leader in triples (Nycole Koyano). Koyano also rates second in the country in walks, receiving .79 per game. OSU has a 4-6 Big Ten record, good for the seventh spot in the standings.
Penn State is 5-5 in the Conference and features some personnel familiar with Northwestern. Head Coach Robin Petrini served as a long-time assistant and associate head coach to Sharon J. Drysdale from 1988-96. Current PSU pitcher Missy Beseres' older sister Jenni was a Wildcat from 1996-99.
Game Facts
Sharon J. Drysdale Field, Evanston, Ill.
Fri., April 22, 2005, 3 p.m. CT
Northwestern vs. Ohio State (22-14, 4-6)
Sat., April 23, 2005, Noon CT
Northwestern vs. Ohio State
Sun., April 24, 2005, 10:30 a.m./12:30 p.m. CT
Northwestern vs. Penn State (27-16, 5-5)
The Series
Series With Ohio State: Northwestern leads, 53-20
Last Result: 5-3, Northwestern (April 18, 2004 at Columbus, Ohio)
Series Streak: 4, Northwestern
Series With Penn State: Northwestern leads, 27-11
Last Result: 2-0, Northwestern (April 17, 2004 at University Park, Pa.)
Series Streak: 3, Northwestern