May 3, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. -- No. 12 Northwestern honored the four members of its 2009 senior class prior to Sunday's game against No. 11 Ohio State at Sharon J. Drysdale Field, but had a rough go of things in a 10-1 (5) loss to the Buckeyes.
The loss drops the Wildcats to 29-13 overall on the year, 12-6 in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes now are 42-7, 14-2 in the conference.
Ohio State scored the game's first run in the top of the first, loading the bases with two outs. The next batter hit a liner that bounced off starting pitcher Lauren Delaney (Jefferson City, Mo./Helias) and into the hole at second for an infield single and a 1-0 Ohio State lead.
The Buckeyes added a quartet of unearned runs to their total in the second. OSU loaded the bases with one out on a walk, an error and a single before a fly ball to deep left center. Left fielder Jordan Wheeler (Garden Grove, Calif./Los Alamitos) raced over and reached out to make a running grab of the ball for the second out, allowing only a single run to score on the sacrifice fly. The next batter, however, hit a three-run home run to give OSU a 5-0 lead.
Sophomore Michelle Batts (Bloomingdale, Ill./Glenbard North) immediately responded with a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the frame. The shot was her seventh of the season and the 20th of her career, tying her with Gretchen Barnes (1999-2002) for sixth in NU history.
Ohio State added a two-run home run in the third before Delaney gave way to Jessica Smith (Encinitas, Calif./Los Alamitos) in the circle with one out. After a bunt single, Smith induced a 4-6-3 double play groundout to end the frame with the score 7-1.
The Buckeyes added three more runs in the fourth to push the game into run-rule territory, 10-1.
In the bottom of the fifth, Nicole Pauly (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) blooped a ball that fell in between the right fielder and second baseman, then took second for a double when it scooted past both. The throw got away from the Buckeyes to allow Pauly to move to third on an error, but she would be stranded there to end the game.
Delaney took the loss, allowing seven runs (three earned) in 2.1 innings pitched.
Northwestern returns to action in its final series of the season Friday and Saturday, May 8-9, at Wisconsin. First pitch for both games is schedules for 6 p.m. CT and both games will be televised live in high definition on the Big Ten Network.