Friday, February 10
Tucson, Ariz.
8 p.m. CT/7 p.m. MT
Northwestern
1-1
6
vs
7
Baylor
2-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
R
H
E
Baylor
0
2
0
0
2
1
0
2
7
13
2
Northwestern
0
0
2
2
0
0
1
1
6
8
2
No. 21 Baylor Stops Northwestern in Extras, 7-6 (8)
2/10/2017 11:43:00 PM | Softball
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Northwestern scored a run in the bottom of the seventh late Friday night to send its game against No. 21 Baylor to extra innings, but the Bears scored twice in the eighth and turned a game-ending double play to take a 7-6 decision over the Wildcats at the Hillenbrand Invitational hosted by Arizona.
NU finishes the Opening Day of 2017 with a 1-1 record after defeating Tulsa earlier in the day. No. 21 Baylor now is 2-1 on the year.
Northwestern returns to action in a late doubleheader tomorrow against No. 10 Arizona and Fordham. The games are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. CT/5 p.m. MT, but could be delayed due to prior games in the tournament taking longer than their allotted time slots. Stay tuned to @NUSBCats on Twitter for the latest.
The game was an exceptional back-and-forth affair with Baylor taking a 2-0 lead in the second only to see Northwestern score twice in the third and fourth take push in front. Baylor jumped back on top by a run in the sixth, then NU got its tying score in the seventh to set the stage for extras.
Baylor found the scoreboard first in the top of the second. With runners at second and third and one out, Northwestern starter Kenzie Ellis got a pop out to short for the second out. The next batter, however, drove in a run on an infield single before a throwing error later in the inning gave the Bears an early 2-0 advantage.
Though Northwestern had batters reach in each of the first two innings, its first true threat came in the bottom of the third. Krista Williams led off with a walk and moved to second when Sabrina Rabin's speed could not be countered on an infield single. Williams was erased at third on a Marissa Panko fielder's choice grounder for the first out of the inning. Morgan Nelson then crushed a foul ball with home run distance, and was plunked on the very next offering to load the bases.
The pitcher Ellis came to the plate and helped her own cause, grounding a two-run single off the bag at third to bring home Rabin and Marissa Panko, knotting the score heading to the fourth inning.
In that fourth, Baylor put a runner aboard early against Ellis, and that's when senior Anna Peterson truly made her presence known. With one down and a runner at first, Petey tracked down a ball in left field, spun and FIRED across the diamond to Alcy Bush at first to double up the runner on the move, ending the inning.
Petersen then stepped up and singled to begin the NU half of the fourth, knocking Baylor's starter Shelby McGlaun from the circle in favor of Gia Rodoni. Bush sacrificed Petersen to second, then back-to-back walks to Williams and Rabin loaded the bases for the second-straight inning. This time, it was Nelson delivering the two-run single, pinging a ball through the right side of the infield to bring Petersen and Williams home for a 4-2 #B1GCats lead heading into the fifth.
Baylor led off the fifth with back-to-back singles, knocking Ellis from the circle in favor of Kaley Winegarner. One out later, the Bears knotted the score with a two-run single, but Winegarner was able to strand two runners on base to keep the contest tied, 4-4.
In the top of the sixth, Baylor again got its two leadoff runners aboard. Winegarner followed with two straight strikeouts, but the third batter blooped a ball down the line into right field. Rabin gave it all she had in the chase, but her dive came up just short and the Bears pushed across the go-ahead run.
With the score still 5-4 in favor of Baylor in the bottom of the seventh, Panko shot a full count single back through the middle to lead off the frame. Nelson sacrificed her to second, then a wild pitch moved her to third. Ellis pummeled a ball toward short that was too hot to handle, scoring Panko on an infield single to tie the game and send it to extra innings.
With the international tiebreaker rule in effect, Baylor effectively moved its runner over and in to regain the lead. The Bears then clubbed a two-out solo home run for good measure, taking a 7-5 edge. After the home run, and with two outs and a runner at first following an error, first-year Morgan Newport entered the circle in relief of Winegarner. She gave up a single and a walk to load the bases, but then got a grounder to Nelson at third to end the inning and keep NU within two.
Sammy Nettling started the bottom of the eighth on second base as Northwestern's ITB runner, and immediately moved to third on a wild pitch. With one out, Petersen ripped a single back through the middle to score Nettling and bring NU back within a run, 7-6. Abbey Boyd entered to run for Petersen at first and Baylor elected to bring its third pitcher of the game, Kelsee Selman, into the game. Though NU pinch-hitter Lily Novak tattooed a grounder up the middle, Baylor had it played perfectly and turned a game-ending double play.
Winegarner (0-1) took the loss in the game, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk with five strikeouts in 3.2 innings. Ellis went four-plus frames, giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits and a walk. Newport tossed a third of an inning, allowing one hit and a walk.
At the plate, Ellis had two hits and three RBIs. Petersen collected two singles, Nelson drove in a pair and Panko scored twice.
NU finishes the Opening Day of 2017 with a 1-1 record after defeating Tulsa earlier in the day. No. 21 Baylor now is 2-1 on the year.
Northwestern returns to action in a late doubleheader tomorrow against No. 10 Arizona and Fordham. The games are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. CT/5 p.m. MT, but could be delayed due to prior games in the tournament taking longer than their allotted time slots. Stay tuned to @NUSBCats on Twitter for the latest.
The game was an exceptional back-and-forth affair with Baylor taking a 2-0 lead in the second only to see Northwestern score twice in the third and fourth take push in front. Baylor jumped back on top by a run in the sixth, then NU got its tying score in the seventh to set the stage for extras.
Baylor found the scoreboard first in the top of the second. With runners at second and third and one out, Northwestern starter Kenzie Ellis got a pop out to short for the second out. The next batter, however, drove in a run on an infield single before a throwing error later in the inning gave the Bears an early 2-0 advantage.
Though Northwestern had batters reach in each of the first two innings, its first true threat came in the bottom of the third. Krista Williams led off with a walk and moved to second when Sabrina Rabin's speed could not be countered on an infield single. Williams was erased at third on a Marissa Panko fielder's choice grounder for the first out of the inning. Morgan Nelson then crushed a foul ball with home run distance, and was plunked on the very next offering to load the bases.
The pitcher Ellis came to the plate and helped her own cause, grounding a two-run single off the bag at third to bring home Rabin and Marissa Panko, knotting the score heading to the fourth inning.
In that fourth, Baylor put a runner aboard early against Ellis, and that's when senior Anna Peterson truly made her presence known. With one down and a runner at first, Petey tracked down a ball in left field, spun and FIRED across the diamond to Alcy Bush at first to double up the runner on the move, ending the inning.
Petersen then stepped up and singled to begin the NU half of the fourth, knocking Baylor's starter Shelby McGlaun from the circle in favor of Gia Rodoni. Bush sacrificed Petersen to second, then back-to-back walks to Williams and Rabin loaded the bases for the second-straight inning. This time, it was Nelson delivering the two-run single, pinging a ball through the right side of the infield to bring Petersen and Williams home for a 4-2 #B1GCats lead heading into the fifth.
Baylor led off the fifth with back-to-back singles, knocking Ellis from the circle in favor of Kaley Winegarner. One out later, the Bears knotted the score with a two-run single, but Winegarner was able to strand two runners on base to keep the contest tied, 4-4.
In the top of the sixth, Baylor again got its two leadoff runners aboard. Winegarner followed with two straight strikeouts, but the third batter blooped a ball down the line into right field. Rabin gave it all she had in the chase, but her dive came up just short and the Bears pushed across the go-ahead run.
With the score still 5-4 in favor of Baylor in the bottom of the seventh, Panko shot a full count single back through the middle to lead off the frame. Nelson sacrificed her to second, then a wild pitch moved her to third. Ellis pummeled a ball toward short that was too hot to handle, scoring Panko on an infield single to tie the game and send it to extra innings.
With the international tiebreaker rule in effect, Baylor effectively moved its runner over and in to regain the lead. The Bears then clubbed a two-out solo home run for good measure, taking a 7-5 edge. After the home run, and with two outs and a runner at first following an error, first-year Morgan Newport entered the circle in relief of Winegarner. She gave up a single and a walk to load the bases, but then got a grounder to Nelson at third to end the inning and keep NU within two.
Sammy Nettling started the bottom of the eighth on second base as Northwestern's ITB runner, and immediately moved to third on a wild pitch. With one out, Petersen ripped a single back through the middle to score Nettling and bring NU back within a run, 7-6. Abbey Boyd entered to run for Petersen at first and Baylor elected to bring its third pitcher of the game, Kelsee Selman, into the game. Though NU pinch-hitter Lily Novak tattooed a grounder up the middle, Baylor had it played perfectly and turned a game-ending double play.
Winegarner (0-1) took the loss in the game, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk with five strikeouts in 3.2 innings. Ellis went four-plus frames, giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits and a walk. Newport tossed a third of an inning, allowing one hit and a walk.
At the plate, Ellis had two hits and three RBIs. Petersen collected two singles, Nelson drove in a pair and Panko scored twice.
••••••
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Rodoni, Gia (1-0)
L: Winegarner, Kaley (0-1)
S: Selman, Kelsee (1)
Batting:
2B: Scroggins, Jessie 1 ; Kettler, Maddison 1
HR: Christensen, Sydney 1
RBI: Scroggins, Jessie 1 ; Walker, Kyla 2 ; Cargill, Lindsey 1 ; Christensen, Sydney 1 ; Ellis, Taylor 1
SH: Kettler, Maddison 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Scroggins, Jessie 1 ; Browder, Riley 1 ; Kettler, Maddison 2 ; Cargill, Lindsey 1 ; Christensen, Sydney 1 ; Ellis, Taylor 1
SB: Scroggins, Jessie 1 ; Cargill, Lindsey 1 ; Ellis, Taylor 1
Batting:
RBI: Nelson, Morgan 2 ; Ellis, Kenzie 3 ; Petersen, Anna 1
SH: Nelson, Morgan 1 ; Bush, Alcy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rabin, Sabrina 1 ; Panko, Marissa 2 ; Nettling, Sammy 1 ; Petersen, Anna 1 ; Williams, Krista 1
CS: Rabin, Sabrina 1
HBP: Nelson, Morgan 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
p/dp
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
3
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF/C
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
P/U
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballIF/OF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
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