It is do or die time at Sharon J. Drysdale Field. It is win or go home and any other euphemism you want to use for this deciding game three between Northwestern and DePaul. The Wildcats will have to turn around quickly after a crushing 3-2 come-from-behind loss in the first game today. Everyone is back in their places and we are set to go.
First Inning: Here is one of the funny things about the NCAA Tournament. NU is not playing at home today. "The J" is a neutral site with mask of unbiased fan support (OK, it is about even between the DePaul and NU fans). The Cats were the home team for the first game, but will be the road team for this important game three.
So during the break, NU and DePaul literally switched dugouts. Even the fans switched sides of the stadium. Worth noting that the Cats defeated the Blue Demons yesterday as the road team.
Second Inning: Pitchers Becca Heteniak and Lauren Delaney have really gotten into a groove in this game. They are both retiring batters quickly. The Cats have a couple big hits to center field, but this one has the making of a pitcher's duel.
Third Inning: the offenses do not seem to be doing much. Mostly flailing the bat at missed pitches and hoping they make some form of contact. OK, that was hyperbole. But it may just be that kind of game. Both teams are flipping their lineups over for the first time. The next two innings could be the key to the game.
Fourth Inning: this looks familiar. Tammy Williams comes up with a runner on and hits a home run over the center field wall. The junior shortstop hits her second two-run home run of the day and gives NU a not too comfortable 2-0 lead.
Williams did the same in the third inning of today's first game. I guess the Cats got themselves a second chance to hold on to a two-run lead today..
DePaul responds by loading the bases with only one out. The worst part is there have been no hits in the inning. An error, a walk and a hit by pitch have put Delaney in her first jam of the game.
Kate Drohan takes time and groups the team at the pitcher's circle and that seems to calm Delaney down. She gets a foul out to left field and a line drive to Williams at shortstop. Cats hold on to the lead.
Fifth Inning: the speedy Jordan Wheeler adds to NU's lead with an RBI double to left center field. Not typically the RBI machine -- it is her only 10th of the year -- Wheeler picked the right spot to bring one home. DePaul loaded the bases last inning, but three seems a lot more than two against Delaney right now.
The Blue Demons got started with that difficult task. A leadoff single and some timely hitting and moving got runners on second and third, bringing team RBI leader Sandy Vojik to the plate. Her liner down the left field line brought two runs home and made it a one-run game.
Jackie Tarulli-Fisher gave the Cats something to think about blasting a shot to the left field wall in foul territory. But the score remains 3-2 after she grounds out to second. NU cannot afford to blow two big leads today, it obviously spells the end to the season.
Sixth Inning: the Blue Demons might have the momentum right now. Heteniak comes out of the dugout and gets three strikeouts -- two of them looking -- against big hitters Michelle Batts, Nicole Pauly and Erin Dyer. Cats will have to take back control on the defensive end.
An error on a weird bounce at short the only blemish in that inning. Cats hold a one-run lead heading into the final inning.
Song Between Innings: "Eye of the Tiger"... it must be that time of year. Aren't tigers part of the feline family?
Seventh Inning: Cats cannot add to their lead. It comes down to the final three outs for the Blue Demons. Nine hitter Alex Morocco and the top of the order are due up for the final three outs of someone's season -- unless we go to extras.
A leadoff single to shallow center is not the way to start if NU wants a trip to the super regionals. But that is exactly what happens, putting the tying run on with the top of the order coming to the plate.
A single that bounces off the glove of shortstop Tammy Williams is not a way to come back from that. But that is what happens and now the Cats face runners at second and third with nobody out.
After a strikeout, Vojik grounds out to the pitcher. Delaney throws the ball home to Dyer to get the tag out and preserve the lead. Runners at the corner with two outs. You can feel the tension as Jackie Tarulli-Fisher lines up for what could easily be the last at bat.
Tarullie-Fisher strikes out as she slams her bat to the ground and is comforted by her teammates. The hero from the last game cannot deliver and NU moves on with a 3-2 victory to play Arizona State or Hawaii.
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