Sometimes, there just aren’t enough innings.
With one out in the bottom of the seventh inning and Northwestern (22-16-1, 10-7 Big Ten) trailing host Wisconsin 3-1 on Sunday, NU’s Erin Mobley scored on a Rane Gunderson sacrifice fly to pull the Wildcats within one.
But Robyn Pettinger grounded out with Jessie Wellnitz in scoring position to kill the rally and complete a heartbreaking day for NU.
“It was really disappointing because we were in it until the end,” Gunderson said. “I really wish that sacrifice fly was a hit so we could have saved an out, but that’s just the way it worked out.”
Brie Brown pitched well for the Cats, giving up only three runs — all on a base-clearing double in the fourth inning — while yielding only five hits. But the junior dropped to 7-11 on the year as NU’s comeback attempt fell short.
“Brie has pitched very well the past two weeks,” NU coach Kate Drohan said. “I have complete confidence in her right now and basically, she only got beat on one pitch.”
Earlier in the day, the Cats lost Game 1 of their doubleheader against the Badgers in a nine-inning marathon, 2-1.
The Cats committed three errors in the game, leading to a critical unearned run.
“I’m obviousy disappointed,” Drohan said. “They got the big hits and we didn’t. Our bats were pretty silent all weekend and it’s due to a lack of aggressiveness.”
Sunday’s nine-inning loss to the Badgers wasn’t even NU’s longest game of the weekend.
On Friday, the Cats defeated Minnesota in a 10-inning thriller, 4-1, at Cowles Stadium in Minneapolis.
Wellnitz, pinch-running for Cindy Muran, scored the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th when J.C. Kira hit into a fielder’s choice. The Cats added two more runs on back-to-back RBI doubles by junior Brett Nakabayashi and sophomore Carri Leto to seal the win.
It was also a homecoming for the senior outfielder Gunderson, a native of Minnetonka, Minn. She celebrated her return home with a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning.
“It’s always fun to go back,” Gunderson said. “I’ve only hit one other home run in my life.”
The Cats also received a strong performance from Lauren Schwendimann, who picked up her 15th win of the season by throwing all 10 innings. The junior struck out five and scattered 10 hits.
Schwendimann also went the distance in Game 1 against Wisconsin, a game in which she consistently pitched her way into and out of trouble. The Badgers won despite leaving 14 runners on base.
“Anytime you have that many runners on base it puts pressure on the defense,” Drohan said. “But (Wisconsin) handled it well.”
Despite the loss, it was still a solid weekend for Schwendimann, who threw 18 1/3 innings and gave up only two earned runs in her two starts.
“(Schwendimann) got stronger as the games went on,” Drohan said. “I’m very pleased with her stamina and the way she kept up her velocity. There’s no doubt in my mind that she’ll keep it up until the end of the year.”
Sunday’s loss completed a three-game set in which NU outscored its opponents 7-6 but was outhit 23-16.
“If you told me at the beginning of the day that we were going to give up only five runs to Minnesota, I would have thought we’d won both,” Drohan said. “Our offense just needs to wake up.”
By going 1-2 on the weekend — a Saturday game against Minnesota was cancelled because of inclement weather — NU slipped to fifth in the Big Ten. But the Cats are still in good position to make the six-team cut for the postseason.
“If we take one game from Iowa (this weekend), I think we’ll be in good shape,” Drohan said.
