March 19, 2008
Northwestern's Bank of Hawaii Invitational Game Notes (PDF Format) 
EVANSTON, Ill. -- With winter quarter finals over, it's time for Spring Break 2008! No. 12 Northwestern embarks this weekend on its biannual trip to Oahu for the Bank of Hawaii Invitational, hosted March 19-22 by the Rainbow Wahine. The Wildcats will participate in a rare compressed schedule in the event, playing five games in two days, including a three-game stretch on Saturday, March 22.
NOTE: THE FOLLOWING GAME TIMES HAVE AGAIN BEEN DRASTICALLY CHANGED NOT ONLY FROM THE SEASON'S ORIGINAL SCHEDULE, BUT AGAIN FOLLOWING THE PUBLICATION OF THIS RELEASE ON MARCH 19.
Northwestern's first game in Honolulu begins at 5 p.m. CT Friday, March 21, against California before NU faces Colorado State at 7 p.m. CT Friday.
The Wildcats then get an opportunity to get back to their club softball roots, when playing almost more games than can be counted on one hand was a regular occurrence. Saturday's trio of games kicks off at 3 p.m. CT against Colorado State followed by a 5 p.m. CT contest versus Saint Mary's. After a two-hour break, NU completes the day with a 9 p.m. CT tilt against No. 17 Hawaii.
Keep in mind that because Hawaii does not observe Daylight Savings Time, the Islands currently are five hours behind Chicagoland. Also, Gametracker will be available for all games, but because home teams will not be determined until just before first pitch, those links will not appear on NUsports.com until immediately before the start of the game.
The Wildcats have a program tradition under head coach Kate Drohan of visiting Hawaii every two years. Northwestern has had great success in the Islands, posting a 12-3 record in its three previous trips since 2002, including a perfect 6-0 mark in 2006. NU was 3-1 in Hawaii in 2004, with one of those victories coming in an exhibition against Japanese university Nittaidai.
 Playing softball in beautiful Hawaii is a Northwestern tradition, as are these fathers in purple Hawaiian shirts.  |
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Entering the final weekend of preconference play, junior Tammy Williams (Roscoe, Mo./Osceola) continues to lead the team and the Big Ten with a .509 batting average while slugging .754 with a team-best three home runs and two triples. Sophomore Lauren Delaney (Jefferson City, Mo./Osceola) has become dominant in the circle of late, boasting an 0.48 ERA, an .093 opponent's batting average, three shutouts and one no-hitter in seven appearances over NU's last two tourneys.
After Hawaii, Northwestern returns home March 28-30 to begin play in its beautiful, brand new facility at Sharon J. Drysdale Field. Wisconsin and Minnesota are the first to visit to open Big Ten play.
To view Northwestern's complete game notes package for the Bank of Hawaii Invitational, click on the .pdf link at the top of this page.