May 14, 2005
Box Score
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- No. 19 Northwestern put a lot of runners on base Saturday morning in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament against No. 22 Iowa, but it could not find the RBI touch in a 2-1, eight-inning defeat to the Hawkeyes.
Northwestern falls to 38-15, while Iowa improves to 48-11.
Ten of NU's 15 losses this season have now come by one run. Five of the Wildcats' last nine Big Ten Tournament games have gone extra innings.
Perhaps it was the early hour or the wet conditions, but fielding was a problem for both teams throughout the contest. Northwestern put two runners on in each of the first two innings on two hits and two Iowa errors, but were unable to score.
In the bottom of the second, the Hawkeyes put two on with no outs on a hit and an error. After Wildcat starter Eileen Canney (Paradise, Calif./Paradise) struck out a batter, Iowa attempted a double steal. Junior catcher Jamie Dotson (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill) threw a perfect strike down to third, placing the ball between the sliding legs of Mindy Heidgerken where Darcy Sengewald (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way East) caught it for the second out of the inning. Canney whiffed the final batter of the inning to end the threat.
Northwestern showcased some alertness on the basepaths to open up the fourth inning. Junior Kristen Amegin (Sacramento, Calif./Elk Grove) drew a leadoff walk, then was lifted for pinch runner Ashley Crane (Sammamish, Wash./Eastlake).
Junior Sheila McCorkle (Costa Mesa, Calif./Mater Dei) laid a bunt down the third-base line, where it was gloved by a diving Abby Ruff. McCorkle beat the throw at first for a single, and Crane took an extra bag with no one covering third. Iowa attempted a late throw to the bag, but Crane was safe and McCorkle moved up to second.
The Wildcats were unable to take the advantage of the situation, however, stranding both runners.
In the bottom of the inning, Canney struck out the side through the heart of the Hawkeye order.
Northwestern broke through in the top of the fifth inning. Freshman Stephanie Churchwell (Lake Forest, Calif./El Toro) lined her second single of the day up the middle. With sophomore Garland Cooper (Mission Viejo, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic) at the plate and one out, Churchwell stole second.
Cooper then hit a ball down the left-field line that landed just fair and past a diving Jenna Spratt for an RBI triple and a 1-0 Northwestern lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, Iowa put runners on first and third with one out after a single and a walk. Junior Courtnay Foster (Tucson, Ariz./Sahuaro) entered the game in the circle in relief for the Wildcats, who coaxed a groundball to first from the initial batter she faced. Cooper looked home but did not have time to get Stacy May barreling down the line, and by the time she looked to first, all runners were safe and the score was tied, 1-1.
Foster then whiffed the next two batters to end the inning.
Churchwell got a one-out single in the top of the seventh for her third hit of the game, then moved over on a sacrifice by Mobley. Iowa elected to intentionally walk Cooper, and the move paid off when Lisa Birocci coaxed a popup to short to end the inning.
Foster set the Hawkeyes down in order in the bottom of the seventh, sending the game into extra frames.
In the top of the eighth, Amegin led off with a line-shot single into center, which skipped past Heidgerken to allow Amegin to take second. Once again, however, NU could not bring the runner home. The Wildcats left 10 runners on in the game.
In the bottom of the inning, Iowa got a leadoff single and advanced the runner with a sacrifice bunt. The next batter popped up down the right-field line toward foul territory, but the wind blew it back into fair territory for a single to put runners on first and third.
After NU walked Emily Nichols to load the bases, Heidgerken came to the plate and took a might cut -- nearly missing the ball -- but the resulting squibber off the end of her bat died before Sengewald could pounce on it and prevent the winning run from coming home.
Both of Iowa's runs in the game came on fielder's choice grounders that rolled less than 20 feet from the plate.
Foster (19-7) ended up with the loss for the Wildcats, while Birocci (28-7) got the win for Iowa.
Churchwell, Amegin and McCorkle were named the All-Tournament team.
Northwestern now awaits the NCAA selection show at 6:30 p.m. CT Sunday to find out its tournament fate. The show will be broadcast live on ESPNews.