May 24, 2006
Northwestern's NCAA Super Regional Notes in PDF Format
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Northwestern's NCAA Super Regional Web Headquarters
EVANSTON, Ill. -- After No. 4 seed Northwestern's sweep through the Evanston Regional, the road to Oklahoma City continues through the North Shore as the Wildcats welcome the Minutewomen of Massachusetts to Sharon J. Drysdale Field for a best two-of-three Super Regional with the winner advancing to the 25th Women's College World Series.
Game one of the series begins at 3 p.m. CT Friday, while game two will take place at 1 p.m. CT Saturday. The "if necessary" game would immediately follow Saturday's game at approximately 3:30 p.m.
In just the second year using the Super Regional format for the NCAA Tournament, this is Northwestern's second-consecutive trip.
The Wildcats advanced after sweeping through the Evanston Regional with a 3-0 mark. NU defeated Southern Illinois, 4-0 and Notre Dame twice, 9-0 (5) and 7-4. The first victory over the Irish marked NU's first run-rule win in the NCAA Tournament in 39 previous games.
UMass also swept through a home regional, hosting No. 13 seed Texas A&M. The Minutewomen first defeated Albany (N.Y.), 2-0, before twice defeating Patriot League champions Lehigh, 6-4 (10) and 4-1. UMass did not have to face the seeded team in its region after Lehigh knocked off Texas A&M twice.
This series marks the second time Massachusetts and Northwestern have met in a best two-of-three series for the right to advance to the Women's College World Series. In 1986, the Wildcats shut out the Minutewomen twice (6-0 and 3-0) to reach the Series. Incidentally, 1986 also was the last time Northwestern qualified for the WCWS.
NU and UMass met once earlier this year in a 7-2 Wildcats' win Feb. 24 at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. The Wildcats scored seven runs off UMass ace Brandice Balschmiter (accounting for 12 percent of the 60 she gave up on the year), who ranks fourth in the nation with a 0.70 ERA. Junior Katie Logan (Tempe, Ariz./Corona del Sol) led NU in the game with two hits and two runs, while senior Courtnay Foster (Tucson, Ariz./Sahuaro) struck out 11 to earn the win.
Through six postseason games, freshman Erin Dyer (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport) leads Northwestern with a .375 batting average and four RBIs. Logan has a team-best seven hits and six runs scored, while senior Ashley Crane (Sammamish, Wash./Eastlake) has launched two home runs. Foster has yet to allow a run through 12.1 innings pitched, and has earned a pair of shutouts for a 2-0 record.
For Northwestern's complete NCAA Super Regional notes package, click on the .pdf link at the top of this page. For FREE live streaming video with audio commentary provided by students from WNUR 89.3 FM, and for complete Evanston Super Regional information, click on the Northwestern Super Regional Web page link also at the top of this page.
THE SERIES (NU leads, 5-1)
1982: Northwestern 4, UMass 3
1986: Northwestern 6, UMass 0 (NCAA)
1986: Northwestern 3, UMass 0 (NCAA)
March 23, 1990: UMass 5, Northwestern 1
March 8, 2003: Northwestern 9, UMass 6
Feb. 24, 2006: Northwestern 7, UMass 2
THE BROADCASTS!
NUsports.com ALL-ACCESS
Every game of the Super Regional will be Web cast live with streaming audio and video. The streams are available at NUsports.com FREE OF CHARGE. To access the stream, visit the special tournament page at NUsports.com
WNUR 89.3
Northwestern student-radio WNUR 89.3 FM will broadcast live all of NU's games.
Gametracker
Gametracker is available at NUsports.com.