Northwestern softball suffered its second straight series loss in conference play, losing two of three to Michigan in Rosemont this past weekend.
The Wildcats (17-18, 5-7 B1G) opened Friday’s game with a promising win before dropping the next two games, repeating the same pattern they showed in the previous weekend’s matchup against Oregon. However, unlike the Ducks, who are one of the top teams in the Big Ten, the Wolverines (24-14, 4-8 B1G) were a far weaker opponent, as they are still slotted below
the ‘Cats in the conference standings even after winning two games against them. Nevertheless, NU still dropped another series and once again struggled to maintain momentum throughout the weekend.
Game 1: Northwestern 4, Michigan 0
NU rode a season-best performance from starter Marina Mason, who put together a 7.0-inning complete-game shutout. The first-year ceded just four hits and two walks while striking out eight on 115 pitches, keeping Michigan’s hitters at bay. Mason continues to impress not just on the ‘Cats pitching staff, but in the conference at large, as her 2.33 ERA ranks fifth in the Big Ten.
On offense, the ‘Cats were by no means sharp, as they stranded the bases loaded without scoring in the bottom of the first. However, sometimes all it takes is one big inning to erase six other mediocre ones, and NU found that critical frame in the fifth. With the bases loaded again — Emma Raye at first, Grace Nieto at second and Tru Medina at third — and two outs, star Bridget Donahey stepped to the plate and cleared the bases, with a double down the left field line driving all three runners home to give NU a 3-0 lead. Kelsey Nader followed this momentous hit with a double of her own that brought Donahey to the plate and extended the lead.
Mason closed the door in the seventh, striking out two batters to punctuate a remarkable performance that powered NU to a win in the series opener.
Game 2: Michigan 9, Northwestern 5
After being put to bed on Friday, Michigan’s offense clearly woke up motivated on Saturday. The Wolverines posted five runs on the board in the second inning off Riley Grudzielanek. But NU’s offense carried over some momentum of its own, and it responded in the bottom of the frame. Kate Renschen drew a bases-loaded walk to get the ‘Cats on the board, while Medina brought home another runner on an RBI groundout.
After inching their way back in this game, the ‘Cats leveled it in the following inning. Kansas Robinson’s two-run long ball made it a one-run game, while Renschen delivered again — this time with her bat — to poke an RBI single that scored Donahey and tied the game.
The score wouldn’t remain knotted for long, as Michigan swiftly got its run back with an RBI single in the fourth. With the Wolverines up 6-5, the score held firm until the dagger dropped in the sixth. Michigan put up three runs — a homer, double and fielder’s choice — to help extend its lead to 9-5. The Wildcat batters struggled to find any offensive momentum after the third inning, helping seal Michigan’s victory.
Game 3: Michigan 11, Northwestern 9
This game was very much a tale of two halves, one so stark that the contrast was hard to believe. Northwestern’s offense exploded for nine runs in the first two innings alone. A combination of three singles, an RBI walk, a throwing error and sacrifice fly generated runs and sustained clutch hitting. The ‘Cats found themselves up 9-0 after the Wolverines had only recorded six outs.
That was only the first half, however, and “act two” was far more troubling. Michigan needed just the third and fourth innings to make a 9-0 deficit into a 9-7 contest, doing most of its damage through two home runs — one by Jenissa Conway and one by Lauren Putz — that piled runners on the board. Five of those earned runs came off Mason, who struggled mightily after silencing the Wolverines bats just two days prior.
After turning a blowout into a tight matchup, the Wolverines did not get complacent. Michigan continued to pound runs, tying the game in the seventh inning with an RBI single, while the go-ahead run came on a fielders choice in the same inning. A single from Putz added an extra insurance run, and in the blink of an eye it was 11-9 Michigan.
Northwestern’s bats couldn’t get anything going in the final inning, stamping Michigan’s series victory in a game that can be described in two ways: a come-from-behind win for Michigan, or a collapse by Northwestern.
Up Next
Northwestern will head to downtown Chicago on Wednesday to face crosstown rival DePaul after the game was postponed from its originally scheduled Tuesday date. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. C.T.
