| 2015 Northwestern Softball -- Illinois Series |
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| Game Notes | Northwestern's Weekly Release |
| Game One: Northwestern (21-17, 9-5 B1G) vs. Illinois (21-22, 10-5 B1G) |
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| Date | Wednesday, April 22 | 2 p.m. CT |
| Location | Sharon J. Drysdale Field | Evanston, Ill. |
| Live Coverage | Live on BTN | Gametracker | @NU_SportsLIVE  |
| Game Two: Northwestern (21-17, 9-5 B1G) vs. Illinois (21-22, 10-5 B1G) |
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| Date | Wednesday, April 22 | 4:30 p.m. CT |
| Location | Sharon J. Drysdale Field | Evanston, Ill. |
| Live Coverage | Live on BTN | Gametracker | @NU_SportsLIVE |
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Coming off one of the most exciting televised finishes to a softball game in recent memory, Northwestern returns home to Sharon J. Drysdale Field to host Illinois in a 2 p.m. CT Wednesday doubleheader that also will be broadcast live on BTN.
Tickets are available now online at NUsports.com or at the gate. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for youth and $3 for groups of 15 or more. New this year, fans can purchase 10-ticket flex plans at NUsports.com for just $3 a ticket. These tickets can be used in any combination for Northwestern home games at "The J." As always, parking is free and tailgating encouraged at NU Softball!
The Illini come into the series fourth in the Big Ten standings at 10-5, a half game ahead of the Wildcats who are 9-5 in the conference. The series takes on added importance due to the fact that the top four teams at the rapidly approaching end to the B1G season receive first-round byes at the Big Ten Tournament.
NU received a much-appreciated boost of momentum Sunday thanks to a seventh-inning come-from-behind victory at Nebraska, the ending of which debuted at No. 2 on ESPN's SportsCenter Top 10 plays of the day. The Wildcats scored three runs in the top of the final inning to take a 5-3 lead over the Huskers, then needed to maintain that lead in the bottom half of the frame against both Nebraska and the clock due to a "drop dead" by which the game was required to end so that Northwestern could catch its flight home. Nebraska loaded the bases with no outs, but Kristen Wood followed by coaxing two infield pop-ups. The next batter then lined a pitch toward center that shortstop Andrea Filler caught on a dive to end the game in spectacular fashion--and with just two minutes to spare.
This @AndreaFiller @NUSBCats #B1GCats game-winning catch checked into the top 3 on #SCTop10 last nite. See it again! http://t.co/DZmEyWCTKi
— Northwestern Sports (@NU_Sports) April 20, 2015
The win snapped a six-game skid for Northwestern that came on the heels of a stretch of 19 games in which the Wildcats went 17-2. With the exception of the two dropped games to Nebraska (No. 47 RPI), the previous six NU losses all have come against teams ranked in the top-25 of the most-recent NCAA RPI.
Freshman Sabrina Rabin, who has quietly become a force atop the Northwestern lineup, fully announced her presence to the Big Ten in the Nebraska series. She hit .800 (8-for-10) against the Huskers with five stolen bases, including four during a 4-for-4 performance during the second game of the series Saturday. Those four steals in one game tied the NU single-game record set by Emily Allard in 2010 and matched by the recent graduate again in 2011.
For her efforts, Rabin was named the Big Ten Player and Freshman of the Week on April 20.
.@NUSBCats Sabrina Rabin sweeps @B1Gsoftball Player, Freshman of the Week awards. #B1GCats http://t.co/vXmmF5FZSC pic.twitter.com/mEfB44dmis
— Northwestern Sports (@NU_Sports) April 20, 2015
Illinois comes into this midweek series on a tear of their own that in many ways mirrors Northwestern midseason rampage. After being swept by Minnesota to begin Big Ten play, the Illini are on a 13-2 streak that includes sweeps of Indiana and Maryland. Illinois' only losses in that time came to Iowa (15-7) and Wisconsin (11-7) in series that the Illini won, two games to one. Illinois has been getting the job done with offense, leading the league with a .386 average and a .693 slugging percentage while ranking second with 31 home runs in B1G games.
FREE BREAKFAST AT THE BALLPARK WEDNESDAY FOR STUDENTS!
Wednesday features an exciting student promotion at Sharon J. Drysdale Field--an all-you-can-put-on-one-plate-and-still-eat make-your-own pancake bar during "Breakfast at the Ballpark!" Come out and support the `Cats while enjoying a breakfast buffet at the "J." For all students, food will be FREE and this is your opportunity to feast on a great spread featuring eggs, bacon, hash browns!
PLAY BALL!
For a complete preview and notes on Wednesday's Illinois series, download the Northwestern weekly release available in the chart at the top of this page.
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