Junior shortstop Tammy Williams had done her part in the second inning. She drew a four-pitch walk and advanced on an error, which allowed two runs to score, giving the Wildcats a three-run lead with two outs.
Williams got a little greedy on the next at-bat. She was picked off trying to steal third base on a close call.
The shortstop left no doubt her next at-bat.
Williams belted a two-run home run to start a five-run fourth inning as NU easily ran by Indiana 11-0 in five innings Friday at Sharon J. Drysdale Field.
The Cats (25-10, 10-1 Big Ten) came out of the gates quickly, recovering from their first Big Ten loss last Sunday.
Sophomore Nicole Pauly, who plays second base, scored an RBI double in the first inning. She was two-for-two and added a solo home run in the fourth. Sophomore designated player Emily Haug added two RBIs as well.
"I think we're just trying to play our game," Williams said. "I think we got away from that Sunday. We were trying to hit the ball and hit the ball hard, like we do. I think that was the plan. As a team, just work together and play Northwestern softball."
NU batted around in the fourth inning. But Indiana's prospects looked bleak even before then -- and they were already trailing by six runs.
Sophomore pitcher Lauren Delaney dominated the Hoosiers, striking out seven of the 15 batters she faced in four innings (freshman Jessica Smith pitched the fifth) and gave up one hit and two walks.
"Lauren's doing amazing," Williams said. "Knowing that you have to play good defense for her -- for those one or two hits -- and know that she is an amazing picture. She is going to get us out of everything. Our job is to just score the runs."
Williams and the Cats' offense did just that, giving the star pitcher plenty of breathing room Friday.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Women's Lacrosse: Cats Know Focus is Key to 4-Peat
Northwestern could rest on its laurels and grind out the regular season with three national championship in the trophy case and the potential for a fourth this season.
The No. 1 Wildcats have a difficult schedule - which has already featured seven ranked teams and three more to come in their final four games - and dominated their opponents. NU has played only two games within five goals, defeating No. 7 Georgetown 7-6 on March 28 and topping No. 10 Duke 15-11 on April 6.
Especially after its game in Durham, N.C., it could be easy to think that this team may be coasting through the season as they trailed at halftime and rallied for the victory.
But after a 16-2 dismantling of No. 8 Notre Dame at Lakeside Field on Wednesday, it is clear NU can keep its focus and drive on toward Towson, Md. and the national championship game.
"I think for this game we really focused on ourselves and doing all the little things that we know are the result of hard work - getting the ground balls and getting the draw controls - and just being aggressive," junior midfielder Hilary Bowen said. "That really helped us out overall."
The Cats undoubtedly have a lot of experience, already defending their title twice. But the way they defeated the Fighting Irish made it look like they were trying to make a statement to the lacrosse world.
NU led Notre Dame 15-0 before conceding a goal. Bowen said the Duke game made the team realize it is not going to simply show up and dominate. Every team is going to be gunning to knock off the defending champions and the team has to focus to reach every win.
But this team is experienced and knows one impressive game does not equate to a championship. The Cats have played with a target on their back for many years and they still expect to see each and every team's best when they take the field.
"A team can come off a big win and think that they rule the world and that's totally not true," Bowen said. "Every single team is going to come out at you as hard as they can. We need to realize on any day, if we don't bring our top game, we can be beaten."
The No. 1 Wildcats have a difficult schedule - which has already featured seven ranked teams and three more to come in their final four games - and dominated their opponents. NU has played only two games within five goals, defeating No. 7 Georgetown 7-6 on March 28 and topping No. 10 Duke 15-11 on April 6.
Especially after its game in Durham, N.C., it could be easy to think that this team may be coasting through the season as they trailed at halftime and rallied for the victory.
But after a 16-2 dismantling of No. 8 Notre Dame at Lakeside Field on Wednesday, it is clear NU can keep its focus and drive on toward Towson, Md. and the national championship game.
"I think for this game we really focused on ourselves and doing all the little things that we know are the result of hard work - getting the ground balls and getting the draw controls - and just being aggressive," junior midfielder Hilary Bowen said. "That really helped us out overall."
The Cats undoubtedly have a lot of experience, already defending their title twice. But the way they defeated the Fighting Irish made it look like they were trying to make a statement to the lacrosse world.
NU led Notre Dame 15-0 before conceding a goal. Bowen said the Duke game made the team realize it is not going to simply show up and dominate. Every team is going to be gunning to knock off the defending champions and the team has to focus to reach every win.
But this team is experienced and knows one impressive game does not equate to a championship. The Cats have played with a target on their back for many years and they still expect to see each and every team's best when they take the field.
"A team can come off a big win and think that they rule the world and that's totally not true," Bowen said. "Every single team is going to come out at you as hard as they can. We need to realize on any day, if we don't bring our top game, we can be beaten."
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