The Tigers now are 16-0 on the season while the Wildcats are 3-9 following their loss. Northwestern concludes its Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic Schedule tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 22, against South Carolina at 11 a.m. CT/9 a.m. PT.
Northwestern put base runners aboard in each of the first two innings, but LSU staked itself to an 8-0 lead after two complete frames during a nightmare bottom of the second for the Wildcats. One out into the inning, the Tiger at the plate drew a walk before the ensuing batter hit a ball on the infield that resulted in everyone being safe, then moving up a base on a throwing error. LSU got its first run on a single to right, but Andrea DiPrima (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) threw out the trail runner with a strike to Caylor Arnold (Mt. Gilead, Ohio/Mt. Gilead) behind the plate.
Northwestern could not take advantage of the great defensive play, however. LSU got two more singles and a double to go ahead 6-0 before Kristen Wood (Trevor, Wis./Wilmot Union) took the circle in relief of NU starter Amy Letourneau (Laguna Niguel, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic). The Tigers would extend their lead to 8-0 before the inning finally came to a close.
In the top of the third, freshman Sabrina Rabin (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) recorded a one-out single and DiPrima drew her second walk of the game, but Northwestern could not cash the base runners into runs.
LSU added another run in the third on a sacrifice fly and made it 10-0 with a solo home run in the fourth. In the top of the fifth, freshman Marissa Panko (Naperville, Ill./Benet Academy) led off with a single but that was all of the offense NU mustered.
Letourneau (1-7) took the loss, allowing seven runs on five hits and three walks in 1.2 innings. Wood pitched 2.1 innings of relief and gave up three runs on four hits and three walks with two strikeouts.
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