Feb. 26, 2011
Site: Cathedral City, Calif. (Big League Dreams Wrigley Field)
Score: No. 24 Texas A&M 9, Northwestern 1 (5)
Records: NU (6-4), Texas A&M (12-5)
Next NU Event: Feb. 26, 2011 -- vs. Oregon State (Cathedral City Classic), Immediately
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. -- No. 24 Texas A&M rallied to a seven-run fourth inning Saturday at the Cathedral City Classic, defeating Northwestern, 9-1 (5).
The game began after an 83 minute delay to dry the field after rain storms passed through overnight. After the first pitch of the game, Emily Allard (Antioch, Calif./Deer Valley) notched an infield single on the second. She stole second base one out later, then scampered home when Adrienne Monka (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Rancho Cucamonga) drove a single into center to give the 'Cats an early 1-0 lead.
Texas A&M quickly loaded the bases against Northwestern starter Jessica Smith (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon) on a pair of walks and a sacrifice bunt that failed to put out the lead runner. Smith expertly got a pop up on the infield for the first out before ringing up the next batter looking. Now with two outs, Smith got to a full-count on the batter but did not get the call on a corner pitch to force in a run. Now with the score tied, 1-1, Smith fanned the next batter looking to limit the damage to a single run.
Both teams had quiet at-bats in the second, then NU mounted a threat in the third. Allard shot a one-out double to the gap in left center before Robin Thompson (Detroit, Mich./Martin Luther King) sacrificed her to third. Monka then drew a walk, but a fielder's choice grounder put out Monka at second to end the half inning.
The Aggies pushed ahead in the bottom of the third on a one-out solo home run, then rallied again in the fourth. A leadoff walk and then a series of illegal pitch calls against Smith led to a seven-run rally to give Texas A&M a 9-1 lead going into the fifth inning. Meghan Lamberth (Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette) entered the game to record the final two outs of the inning.
Northwestern rallied against the run-rule in the top of the fifth. Jordan Wheeler (Garden Grove, Calif./Los Alamitos) led off with a single up the middle before moving to second one out later when Allard notched her third hit of the game. A walk to Monka loaded the bags, but a Michelle Batts (Bloomingdale, Ill./Glenbard North) line drive to left was tracked down to end the game.
Smith (1-4) took the loss, allowing nine runs (eight earned) on six hits and seven walks with seven strikeouts.
Northwestern returns to action immediately against Oregon State at the 2011 Cathedral City Classic.
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