Feb. 20, 2009
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. -- Sophomore Robin Thompson (Detroit, Mich./Martin Luther King) matched NU single-game records with a 4-for-4 performance and four runs scored while classmate Michelle Batts (Bloomingdale, Ill./Glenbard North) also went 4-for-4 to lead No. 12 Northwestern past Oregon State Friday morning, 7-3.
Northwestern's record improves to 7-3 on the year with the victory. Oregon State falls to 7-5 with its loss. The Wildcats are 1-0 at the Cathedral City Classic, while the Beavers now are 2-1 in the event.
Thompson and Batts are the first Wildcats to reach four hits in a game since Tammy Williams (Roscoe, Mo./Osceola) did it on Feb. 15, 2008, against Texas A&M. Thompson's four runs ties the school record held by Erin Mobley (attained April 30, 2005) and Erin Jancic (reached twice).
Northwestern put the game's first run on the scoreboard in the top of the first. Thompson got on base with a one-out double, a ball that ricocheted off the third baseman's glove and bounded into foul territory to allow the speedy Thompson to reach second. One out later, sophomore Michelle Batts (Bloomingdale, Ill./Glenbard North) fisted a single into right to score Thompson and give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
Oregon State also scored in the bottom of the first thanks to a one-out walk, a bunt single and a single into left. The Wildcats alertly erased the trail batter-runner trying to reach second on the play at the plate, but the runner on third came home on a wild pitch later in the inning to give the Beavers the lead, 2-1.
Northwestern struck back in the top of the second to tie the score. Reigning Big Ten Player of the Week Adrienne Monka (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Rancho Cucamonga) drew a leadoff walk, then was replaced at first by pinch runner Aly Euler (River Forest, Ill./Oak Park River Forest). One out later, sophomore Kelly Quinn (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North) lined a double into left to score Euler all the way from first and tie the game, 2-2.
Oregon State struck back for a run in the top of the second, scoring on a two-out single to regain the lead, 3-2.
Northwestern immediately tied the game, 3-3, in the top of the third. Thompson led off with a single before stealing second base. Nicole Pauly (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) then lifted a long fly ball to the fence in center, allowing Thompson to move to third. Batts brought Thompson in with her second single of the ballgame.
In the top of the fifth, the Wildcats took the lead back for the first time since the first inning. With one out, Thompson ripped her third base hit of the game before trotting home when Pauly homered to right to give the Wildcats a 5-3 advantage. The shot was Pauly's fourth of the season and the 33rd of her career, good for fourth all-time at NU.
In the top of the seventh, Thompson notched her fourth hit of the ballgame before scoring her record-matching fourth run on a home run by Batts. The blast was Batts' career-best fourth hit of the game, her second homer of the year and the 15th of her career. An Erin Dyer (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport) double and a walk to Monka chased Oregon State starter Kelly Dyer (yes, she shares her name with NU's starting centerfielder).
Oregon State put a runner on in the bottom of the seventh, but a strike-em-out, throw-em-out double play ended the game. Delaney (6-3) earned the win, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks with 10 strikeouts.
In addition to Thompson and Batts, Quinn notched two hits for the `Cats. Batts drove in four while Pauly knocked in a pair.