March 22, 2008
HONOLULU -- No. 12 Northwestern opened the scoring Saturday in the finale of the Bank of Hawaii Invitational, but the host and 17th-ranked Wahine finished it in a 6-1 win over the Wildcats.
The loss brings Northwestern's preconference season to a close with a 13-9 record. Hawaii improves to 24-10 on the year with its win.
Northwestern opened the game's scoring in the top of the third inning. Sophomore Ashley Lafever (Bettendorf, Iowa/Pleasant Valley) reached on a one-out error by the Hawaii shortstop, then moved to second on a wild pitch from Wahine starter Courtney Baughman. A productive groundout to the right side by senior Darcy Sengewald (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) moved Lafever to third, then junior Tammy Williams (Roscoe, Mo./Osceola) drove her in with a single up the middle to give NU a 1-0 lead.
Hawaii got the run back in the bottom of the inning. A leadoff single to short was followed by a wild pitch, a sacrifice bunt and another wild pitch to send the runner home. Catcher Erin Dyer (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport) made a great play to get the second wild pitch and fire to starter Lauren Delaney (Jefferson City, Mo./Helias) covering at home, but the Hawaii runner knocked the ball loose on the tag to tie the score, 1-1.
In the top of the fourth, Northwestern hit the ball hard but to no avail. Sophomore Nicole Pauly (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) opened the frame with a laser-beam line shot into right that bounced twice before getting to the fielder, who fired quickly to first to retire Pauly by a step. After Dyer got a base hit, Jessica Rigas (River Forest, Ill./Oak Park River Forest) hit a rocket grounder up in the middle, but it was gloved by a ranging shortstop who was shading the second-base bag, resulting in an inning-ending double play.
Hawaii seized on the opportunity, scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth helped in part by a double, a triple and an NU error, taking a 4-1 lead in the contest.
Northwestern put two runners on in the top of the fifth thanks to back-to-back two-out singles by Sengewald and Williams, but a line drive off the bat of Jordan Wheeler (Garden Grove, Calif./Los Alamitos) was gloved at shortstop to end the threat.
Hawaii again added to its lead, this time making the score 6-1 with two runs in the bottom of the fifth on a double, a single, a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly.
In the top of the seventh, sophomore Kelly Dyer (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport) opened the proceedings with a solid single into center. One out later, Sengewald singled through the left side of the infield to move Dyer to second. A fielder's choice grounder from Williams erased Sengewald at second and moved Dyer to third before a groundout ended the game.
Delaney went the distance in the circle, falling to 11-6 on the season after surrendering six runs (five earned) on five hits and one walk with five strikeouts.
Williams and Sengewald both led NU at the plate with a pair of hits, while Williams also recorded an RBI.
Northwestern returns to action at 4 p.m. CT Friday, March 28, when it opens its brand new facility at Sharon J. Drysdale Field against Wisconsin. The game also is the first of 2008 Big Ten play.