May 5, 2005
Northwestern Game Notes in PDF Format
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EVANSTON, Ill -- So it comes down to this.
Michigan is ranked No. 1 in the nation, but it is No. 19 Northwestern playing top `Cat in the Big Ten. When the Wolverines and Wildcats hook up this weekend for the conference regular-season finale at Alumni Field in Ann Arbor, one of the two will emerge as Big Ten champion.
Northwestern enters with a 15-1 mark in the league, while Michigan is in second with a 13-2 record. Because of a snowstorm and various other terrible weather conditions two weekends ago, UM has played one less game than NU. Therefore, due to percentages, the Wildcats need one win out of the two games to claim their fifth conference crown, while the Wolverines must sweep to walk away with their 10th.
Whichever team wins will be rewarded as hosts for the 2005 Big Ten Tournament, which will take place May 12-14.
Alumni Field will be the setting this weekend for some of the best talent the Big Ten has to offer. Sophomore Garland Cooper (Mission Viejo, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic) leads the conference in batting (.468), slugging (.835) and on-base percentage (.561). In Big Ten games only, freshman Stephanie Churchwell (Lake Forest, Calif./El Toro) is on top with a .500 batting average, 30 hits and 19 runs scored. Cooper is also batting .500 while senior Erin Mobley (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill) has scored 19 times, too.
Michigan has its share of talent as well. Tiffany Haas, Jessica Merchant and Samantha Findley all lead Big Ten statistical batting categories. In the circle, Jennie Ritter has been UM's ace with a 25-1 record. Lorilyn Wilson leads the team with a 0.73 ERA. In last year's series split, Cooper hit a grand slam off Ritter that proved to be the game-winner in the bottom of the sixth during a 6-4 NU win.
Northwestern's pitching has been pretty good this season, too. Junior Courtnay Foster (Tucson, Ariz./Sahuaro) and sophomore Eileen Canney (Paradise, Calif./Paradise) both own 18 wins and rank in the top-five in the Big Ten in ERA and opposing batting average. Canney has already beaten three top-five opponents, earning two wins over No. 3/5 Stanford and one victory against No. 2 California.
Game Facts
Alumni Field, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Sat., May 7, 2005, 5 p.m. CT
Northwestern at No. 1 Michigan (50-4, 13-2)
Sun., May 8, 2005, Noon CT
Northwestern at No. 1 Michigan
The Series
Series With Michigan: Michigan leads, 55-26
Last Result: 7-3 (8), Michigan (May 2, 2004 at Sharon J. Drysdale Field)
Series Streak: 1, Michigan