The Northwestern softball team has sought one thing the entire season – control. Now sitting in fourth place in the Big Ten, the Wildcats have achieved just that.
From a possible third seed in the conference tournament to watching from the sidelines last year, this spring’s postseason possibilities are wide open for NU. Best of all, the Cats can pave their own way.
“I really like the position we’re in,” NU coach Kate Drohan said. “The whole year we’ve been focusing on creating our own future. Now it’s up to us and in our control.”
Looming close behind the Cats are fifth-place Minnesota (33-16, 7-5 Big Ten) and sixth-place Wisconsin (26-16, 7-5), both only one game back.
But NU (21-14-1, 9-5) can hold both of its pursuers at bay when it hosts the two squads this weekend. A successful weekend would secure the Cats’ hold on the No. 4 seed for the six-team conference tournament.
What makes this weekend even more important is that NU stands only a half-game behind third-place Iowa (31-16, 9-4), which will also face Minnesota and Wisconsin this weekend. If NU racks up more wins than the Hawkeyes this weekend, the Cats could put themselves in a position to snatch the third seed from Iowa, which visits Evanston next week.
On the other end of the spectrum, NU is not even guaranteed a spot in the tournament. Current postseason outsiders Penn State (27-21, 8-8) and Illinois (28-19, 6-8) could still pass the Cats.
NU decides its fate on the road, an environment Drohan likes.
“It’s to our advantage,” she said. “We have really good focus when we’re on the road, and a lot of fans and parents will be making the trip.”
The Cats start today in Minneapolis, facing the Golden Gophers at 6 p.m. Drohan said her players are excited to return to Minnesota’s lighted facility after sweeping the Golden Gophers there last season.
The Cats will play their last Big Ten road games Sunday in Madison, Wis., where they meet the Badgers for a noon doubleheader.
Though Wisconsin sits below Minnesota in the conference race, the Badgers might pose more of a problem for the Cats. While NU has taken its last four games against Minnesota, the Cats have dropped three straight to Wisconsin.
Drohan said the Cats need to keep the bats off their shoulders.
“The key all weekend will be swinging the bats,” Drohan said. “When we swing aggressively we make things happen.”
Three of the four pitchers the Cats will face throw mostly riseballs, a pitch NU has hit well throughout the season.
The Cats enter the weekend well-rested – their doubleheader against Loyola was rained out Wednesday.
“I’m not worried about (the break) at all,” Drohan said. “It won’t affect our play, and it will be very good for our pitching staff.”
Drohan added that the time off is especially beneficial for the Cats’ pitching ace, junior Lauren Schwendimann, who experienced soreness during the week.
With Schwendimann back at full strength and junior Brie Brown finding her stride, the coach said NU’s pitching outlook is good for the decisive weekend.
“I’m very, very happy with how Brie looks right now,” Drohan said. “I think she’s at her best.”
The pressure of returning to postseason play is tremendous, but NU has found asylum in having an active hand in the matter.
“We control our own destiny,” senior Erin Jancic said. “It’s important to know it’s all in our hands and completely up to us. It’s a good thing.”
