March 26, 2008

Northwestern's Big Ten Opening Weekend Game Notes (PDF Format)

EVANSTON, Ill. -- With preconference travel finished after five trips to warm-weather climes, it's Big Ten time for No. 16 Northwestern, which opens conference play this weekend against Wisconsin and Minnesota at the brand new Sharon J. Drysdale Field.

Festivities get underway with a 4 p.m. CT first pitch Friday, March 28, versus the Badgers, followed by a noon CT start Saturday against UW. Northwestern then meets Minnesota in a Sunday doubleheader beginning at noon CT.

The games will be the first at home for Northwestern following extensive renovations to its ballpark. Permanent seating, sunken dugouts, a new backstop and a game operations booth highlight the improvements, making Sharon J. Drysdale Field an even better place to watch some of the best college softball in the nation.

Northwestern has finished in the top two in the Big Ten in each of the last three seasons, winning the conference title in 2006. The Wildcats have earned the last three Big Ten Player of the Year awards, three of the last four Freshman of the Year honors and the last two Pitcher of the Year accolades.

The Wildcats faced their traditional rough-and-tumble preconference slate this year, playing 12 of their 22 games against teams ranked or receiving votes in this week's NFCA coaches poll. Northwestern earned three wins against teams currently ranked in the top 10 during that stretch.

Even against those powerful opponents, junior Tammy Williams (Roscoe, Mo./Osceola) enters Big Ten play as the nation's leading hitter, boasting a .535 batting average that is .035 points ahead of the next-best number. Williams' .580 on-base percentage ranks second in the country.

Freshman Jordan Wheeler (Garden Grove, Calif./Los Alamitos) has been hot at the plate since jumping to the No. 2 spot in the order five games ago, hitting .467 during that stretch. Her defense has been solid as well, with the right fielder already racking up four assists in just 16 starts.

The Broadcasts
With Northwestern's return to its brand new digs at Sharon J. Drydale Field, so too does student radio station WNUR 89.3 FM return to broadcast the 'Cats. Friday's opener with UW and Sunday's double-dip against Minnesota will be available at 89.3 FM or online at sports.wnur.org. In addition, live streaming video via premium All-Access at NUsports.com will be available Saturday and Sunday.

Also, as always, Gametracker will be available for every home game in 2008.

For Northwestern's complete weekend game notes, click on the .pdf link at the top of this page.