Feb. 21, 2009
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. -- In a pitcher's duel between Northwestern's Lauren Delaney (Jefferson City, Mo./Helias) and Fresno State's Morgan Melloh, No. 14 Fresno State broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the top of the seventh to defeat No. 12 Northwestern, 3-0, Saturday afternoon at the Cathedral City Classic.
The loss drops Northwestern to 7-6 on the season while Fresno State improves to 6-2 with its win.
Northwestern mounted the game's first rally in the bottom of the second inning. Michelle Batts (Bloomingdale, Ill./Glenbard North) drew a leadoff walk, then moved to second one out later when Erin Dyer (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport) also drew a walk. Batts was replaced at second by pinch runner Aly Euler (River Forest, Ill./Oak Park River Forest). Senior Ashley Lafever (Bettendorf, Iowa/Pleasant Valley) slapped a single over third base to load the bases, but Fresno State starter Melloh got a strikeout to end the inning.
On the defensive side, Northwestern Delaney was doing a great job inducing ground balls and pop ups while her infield did a fantastic job behind her. NU ended the first and fourth innings with double plays to give it 10 on the season, already surpassing the Wildcats' total of nine turned all of last year.
Fresno State put together its first rally in the top of the fifth, getting back-to-back one-out singles. The runners moved up a base on a wild pitch before Delaney got a harmless pop up to Pauly behind second for out number two. The next batter hit a slow chopper toward short that Williams charged, gloved and fired to first to beat the runner by a quarter step and end the inning with no runs across.
The pitcher's duel progressed into the seventh inning when Fresno State again pieced together a threat. The leadoff batter reached on an error -- the first in a ball game full of great defensive plays -- before the next batter worked a walk. The next Bulldog to the plate fanned before Delaney caught a pop up for out number two. The next play was kind of bizarre with a collision between Williams and the lead runner on a comebacker to the circle resulting in a fielder's choice with everyone being safe to load the bases.
The next two batters snuck singles through the left and right sides of the infield, respectively, to plate a trio of unearned runs and give Fresno State a 3-0 lead before Northwestern could end the inning.
Delaney (6-5) took the loss after surrendering three runs (none earned) on eight hits with one walk and one K.
Northwestern returns to action in an early 10 a.m. CT/8 a.m. PT contest against Nebraska in the Wildcats' final game at the Cathedral City Classic.