April 14, 2009
Northwestern's Iowa Game Notes (PDF Format) 
Click here for Northwestern Softball's 2009 Promotions Schedule!
EVANSTON, Ill. -- No. 10 Northwestern returns home to play its fifth and sixth Big Ten Network games of the season when it hosts No. 23 Iowa in a Wednesday, April 15, doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. at Sharon J. Drysdale Field. The game is NU softball's Chipotle BIG GAME, with burrito coupons going to the first 50 students to arrive and one lucky student going home with an entire quarter's supply of burrito coupons!
The Wildcats are halfway through their conference schedule, currently sitting tied atop the Big Ten standings with Ohio State at 9-1. The Hawkeyes have played four league series so far, earning a 5-3 mark in those games to enter Wednesday in fourth place in the Big Ten.
Northwestern already has played four contests on the Big Ten Network, sweeping Michigan March 21-22 before splitting two at Minnesota on April 8. Wednesday's double-dip marks the 26th and 27th games the NU senior class will have played on national television -- most in the league.
Iowa and Northwestern split the regular-season series between the two squads last year, with the Wildcats winning the first game of a doubleheader in Iowa City, 2-0, before the Hawkeyes captured the second contest, 5-2. The two teams then met in the Big Ten Tournament championship game in Evanston, where a fourth-inning Erin Dyer (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport) solo home run proved to be the difference in a 1-0 Wildcats' victory.
Junior Nicole Pauly (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) has continued her torrid hitting in the Big Ten this season, going a career-best 4-for-4 in Northwestern's second game at Minnesota last Wednesday to raise her batting average to .538 in conference play. Pauly leads a quartet of Wildcats batting better than .400 in Big Ten games; the other three are Kelly Quinn (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North) (.467), Tammy Williams (Roscoe, Mo./Osceola) (.448) and Michelle Batts (Bloomingdale, Ill./Glenbard North) (.414).
Last week Williams accepted an invitation to the USA Softball Women's National Team selection camp, joining current Northwestern volunteer assistant coach Lauren Lappin as two of 27 athletes to accept the invite. Williams also participated in the selection camp in 2007.
Following Wednesday's doubleheader, Northwestern will step out of conference for a Chicagoland showdown at Loyola (Chicago) beginning at 4 p.m. CT in Rogers Park.
On Your Television
Wednesday's doubleheader with Iowa will be broadcast live in high definition on the Big Ten Network. Lisa Cornwell has the call with Heather Lyke on color commentary.
VOTE FOR TAMMY!
Senior Tammy Williams is one of 10 finalists for the 2009 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. Fan voting counts for 1/3 of the final tally, and fans can vote once per day until May 7. Visit www.seniorclassaward.com or text SB10 to 839863 on your mobile device.
PURPLE AUCTION
Join Northwestern Softball on May 2, 2009, for the third annual PURPLE AUCTION to be held in Welsh-Ryan Arena following the Wildcats' home game against Ohio State! With great food, drinks and outstanding auction items, this is THE event to celebrate Northwestern Softball! Click here for more information, to register or to donate items for the auction!