Feb. 16, 2008

Box Score

TEMPE, Ariz. -- For all of the history Northwestern has made during the seven-year Drohan era, one accomplishment has escaped the Wildcats: a win over Arizona. Saturday morning at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz., No. 6 Northwestern took care of that in resounding fashion, pounding No. 1 Arizona, 8-5.

The win is Northwestern's first regular-season victory over the nation's No. 1-ranked team since the Wildcats took out UCLA at Easton Stadium, 3-2, on March 26, 2006.

The Wildcats' win against their mascot counterparts from the Pac-10 conference not only was the first under head coach Kate Drohan, but also was the first in program history. Under Drohan, NU has beaten seven of the eight teams in the Pac-10, with Oregon the only exception. The Wildcats have played the Ducks only once in the last seven years.

Overall, Drohan has a 24-19 record against the Pac-10.

Northwestern now is officially 1-0 on the season because its opening game Friday against Texas A&M is in a suspended state with the 'Cats on top 8-4 in the fifth inning. That game will be resumed at 9 a.m. CT Sunday morning, Feb. 17. Arizona's loss drops the preseason No. 1 to 0-1 on the year.

After sophomore Lauren Delaney (Jefferson City, Mo./Helias) struck out the Arizona side to start the game, Northwestern got right into its offense in the bottom half. Senior Darcy Sengewald (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) sent a leadoff single back up the middle, then junior Tammy Williams (Roscoe, Mo./Osceola) worked a full-count walk.

On the walk, Arizona catcher Callista Balko decided to throw down to second base, but the throw ricocheted into left field for an error, allowing Sengewald to move to third and Williams to take second. Arizona hurler Taryne Mowatt recovered from the mistake to fan the next three batters and escape the inning unscathed.

Northwestern did not let Mowatt perform a similar Houdini act in the bottom of the third, hanging a five-spot on the All-American. With one out, Sengewald laced a double off the very top of the fence in left, leaving a pronounced dent in the yellow tubing topping the wall. Arizona then elected to intentionally walk Williams. Sophomore Nicole Pauly (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) followed with a single up the middle, scoring Sengewald and moving Williams to third. Pauly advanced to second on the throw home.

On the very next pitch, freshman Michelle Batts (Bloomingdale, Ill./Glenbard North) lined a double to the fence in center to drive in Williams and Pauly and make NU's lead three, 3-0. Sophomore Aly Euler (River Forest, Ill./Oak Park River Forest) replaced Batts at second.

A bloop single by Jessica Rigas (River Forest, Ill./Oak Park River Forest) moved Euler to third, with Rigas alertly taking second on a cut off throw toward the plate. A sacrifice fly by junior Erin Dyer (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport) scored Euler and moved Rigas to third, then Rigas scampered home on a wild pitch by Mowatt to give the Wildcats a 5-0 advantage.

Arizona attempted a comeback in the top half of the fourth, turning a hit by pitch, double and single into one run, but with runners at second and third and no outs, Delaney coaxed a groundout to third before fanning the next two batters to get out of the jam with NU `s lead still at four, 5-1.

In the bottom of the fourth, Williams stroked a two-out double into the gap in left center, then Pauly hit a soaring home run deep over the fence in center to push the NU lead to six, 7-1.

Arizona tried to answer again in the top of the fifth after a pair of leadoff walks, but Delaney settled in again to force two groundouts and a whiff to end the frame.

Leading off the fifth, Rigas hit a moon shot that traveled farther vertically than horizontally before landing beyond the center field wall for a solo home run, extending the cushion to seven, 8-1.

Arizona added four cosmetic runs in the top of the seventh to make the final score 8-5.

Delaney earned her first victory of the season, going the distance and allowing five runs on seven hits with five walks and 12 strikeouts. Mowatt pitched all six innings for Arizona to drop to 0-1.

Sengewald finished 3-for-4 with a run scored, while Williams, Pauly and Rigas all had a pair of hits and two runs scored. Pauly drove in three and Batts knocked in two.

Northwestern returns to action at 4 p.m. CT this afternoon, Feb. 16, against Idaho State at the Kajikawa Classic.

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