No. 23 Iowa’s Upset Bid Falls Short at No. 10 Northwestern

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April 15, 2009

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EVANSTON, IL – Northwestern pinch-hitter Emily Haug recorded an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth to defeat Iowa, 6-5 in nine innings Wednesday at Sharon J. Drysdale Field in Evanston. Iowa had its chances to score runs, stranding 15 runners on the basepaths in the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader.

In the bottom of the ninth, Wildcat right fielder Kelly Quinn hustled to second on a Hawkeye error, and was sacrificed to third. She later scored the winning run off the single by Haug.

Northwestern jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first matchup with a solo home run by Tammy Williams. Iowa fought back with a run in top of the fifth to tie the score at one. Sophomore Chelsey Carmody walked, and senior Colleen McGlaughlin followed with Iowa’s first hit of the game, a single through the left side. Freshman Liz Watkins was then hit by a pitch, loading the bases for junior Katie Brown, who hit a towering sacrifice fly to left field that was caught on the warning track. The fly ball plated Carmody from third base.

Northwestern opened up a 5-1 lead in the fifth inning, after a close call at first base extended the inning for the Wildcats. With two outs, Northwestern’s Robin Thompson attempted to reach with a bunt, but starting pitcher Brittany Weil appeared to throw her out at first. The team cleared the field after the inning was thought to be over, but the umpires overturned the call, ruling that Carmody, who was covering first, pulled her foot off the bag. Tammy Williams was then hit by a pitch, and back-to-back home runs gave the Wildcats a 5-1 advantage.

The Hawkeyes mounted a furious comeback in their next at-bat, plating four runs with two outs in the frame to tie the score at five. Walks to senior Erin Riemersma and pinch-hitter Rachel West put runners on first and second with no outs. Two batters later, Carmody roped a double to the gap in left-center, clearing the bases for a 5-3 deficit. McGlaughlin then tied the game with a two-run shot over the center field fence, tagging the flag pole on its way out of the park.

Iowa had a golden chance in the eighth inning to plate the go-ahead run, putting runners on second and third with only one out, but couldn’t send a runner home.

The Hawkeyes had early chances to score, leaving the bases loaded in both the first and third innings.

Junior Amanda Zust took the hard-fought loss, throwing 3.1 innings of relief. She allowed only one hit, which was the game-winner, and struck out three. Senior Brittany Weil started the game and threw five innings, giving up one earned run on five hits with six K’s.

Northwestern starter Lauren Delaney threw all nine innings, and recorded 222 pitches. She struck out 14 Hawkeyes, but also walked 16 batters.

Iowa and Northwestern will wrap up the doubleheader Wednesday, with the first pitch at approximately 5:30 p.m.