Back on the Beat With the Northwestern Wildcats Women's Softball

The Northwestern Wildcats Women’s softball team returned to Evanston to start Conference play. The Cats stood at 11-14 as they welcomed the Wisconsin Badgers (21-2) for a three game series.

On the surface, this would seem to be a mismatch. Despite the formidable opponent and questionable weather, Northwestern fans came out strong and I was happy to be among them. Our mutual love of softball and the Wildcats sat dormant through the cold Chicago winter. We were all anxious to be back at the ballpark.

I was especially excited for the series against Wisconsin because of Kirsten Verdun and Danielle Zymkowitz, two of their assistant coaches. They were big parts of the success of the Chicago Bandits over the last few years. Not to be outdone on the Bandits front, the Wildcats have Michelle Gascoigne, Tammy Williams and Andrea Filler on their staff. Of course, there is much more to the games than seeing old friends coaching.

Friday’s game started well for the Wildcats. Outfielder Krista Williams made a great grab on a line drive off the bat of the Badgers’ leadoff hitter. They were up 1-0 after one inning and 4-2 after two. Things got a bit ugly after that. The Wildcats were outscored 12-1 in the final five innings, making the final score 14-5.

The Wildcats scored only one run after the second inning, while the Badgers actually scored in every inning except the first. In addition to the offensive display, the two teams combined for 16 walks.

Starter Kenzie Ellis (3-6) took the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits, four walks and three strikeouts in 3.1 innings. Morgan Newport pitched 3.2 innings, giving up nine runs (eight earned) on six hits, six walks and one strikeout.

Offensively, the Wildcats had seven hits. Marissa Panko led NU with two hits and two RBI. Sabrina Rabin scored two runs.

Game two on Saturday was a different story, although it had a similar start. Centerfielder Rabin made a fantastic catch, robbing the Badgers of a home run. NU jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but the score was tied 3-3 after three innings. Wisconsin scored one in the fifth to take a 4-3 lead. That lead held up until the bottom of the seventh, when the Cats scored again. The Cats held the Badgers in the top of the eighth and then it all got very interesting.

Senior Anna Petersen belted an inside-the-park walk-off homer (her second of the game). The Cats took the 5-4 win much to the delight of all in attendance.

Once again, Rabin and Panko lead the way offensively. Each had two hits and Rabin scored twice.

On the mound, Sophomore Kaley Winegarner pitched all 8 innings, giving up only 3 hits and two walks. Winegarner evened her record at 2-2.

The rubber match on Sunday unfortunately went to the Badgers with the 7-1 drubbing of the Cats. The Badgers scored 2 in the third, but that was all of the scoring going into the seventh. The Badgers put up 5 in their half of the inning to stretch the lead to 7-0. The Cats answered with one to bring the final to 7-1.

On the positive side, centerfielder Rabin continued her defensive wizardry. In the first inning, she made a leaping catch, reaching over the wall, for what would have been a home run for the Badgers.

Other positives were hits by pinch-hitters Morgan Newport and Lily Novak in the seventh. Newport got on base and was eventually driven in by Novak.

Starter Nicole Bond pitched 6 innings, giving up 4 runs on 5 hits and 6 walks to drop her record to 2-5. Kenzie Ellis pitched the final inning, yielding 3 runs on 2 hits and 2 walks.

The Badgers took the series 2-1. It was just their second series win in the last 15 years against the Wildcats.

NU now stands at 12-16 with a 1-2 Conference record. They host UIC tomorrow in the last game of this homestand. Then they head to Ann Arbor, MI for a three game series against the Wolverines. The Wildcats return home next Wednesday for a doubleheader against Illinois.

Northwestern women’s softball is back and I could not be happier. I’ll see you at the ballpark!