April 18, 2010
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Alumni Field)
Score: No. 2 Michigan 15, Northwestern 0 (5)
Records: NU (18-18, 4-5 Big Ten), Michigan (33-5, 9-0 Big Ten)
Next NU Event: April 21, 2010 -- at Michigan State (DH), 2 p.m. ET
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- No. 2 Michigan began the second game of its series against Northwestern in the same fashion as it did the first contest, building a quick 7-0 lead after two innings Sunday, but unlike Saturday the Wildcats were unable to mount a serious rally in a 15-0 (5) loss to the Wolverines.
The loss drops Northwestern to 18-18 overall on the year, 4-5 in the Big Ten. Michigan is 33-5 on the season, 9-0 in the conference after its win.
Michigan put five runs on the board in the bottom of the first. Two singles preceded a misplayed ball that was called a single to score one run before a two-out, 0-2 grand slam against Northwestern starter Jessica Smith (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon) made it 5-0 for the home team. Smith recovered to fan the next batter she faced, giving her two strikeouts in the first inning.
Smith retired the first two Wolverines to the plate in the second on just two pitches, but back-to-back singles followed by a Wildcat error allowed two more runs to come across to make it 7-0 after two full frames of play.
In the bottom of the third, Michigan added another two-out run on a single up the middle. Senior Lauren Delaney (Jefferson City, Mo./Helias) replaced Smith at that juncture of the inning, retiring the first batter she faced to end the frame. Smith (6-4) went 3.0 innings in the game and was charged eight runs (six earned) on seven hits and two walks with two strikeouts.
Adrienne Monka (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Rancho Cucamonga), who ranks among the nation's leaders in walks, worked another to lead off the top of the fourth before giving way to pinch runner Aly Euler (River Forest, Ill./Oak Park River Forest). One out later, Nicole Pauly (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) smoked a one-hopper toward the hole at short, but a diving stop robbed Pauly, eliminated Euler at second and put the brakes on the NU rally.
Michigan added a pair of runs against Delaney in the bottom of the fourth before Meghan Lamberth (Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette) relieved her. The Wolverines picked up five more, during which starter Smith re-entered the circle, before the inning ended with the score 15-0.
Northwestern returns to action at 2 p.m. CT Wednesday, April 21, in a Big Ten doubleheader at Michigan State. NU then returns home immediately to face Loyola (Chicago) at 4 p.m. CT Thursday, April 22, at Sharon J. Drysdale Field.
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