The excitement of the Big Ten race will be put on hold today when the Northwestern softball team heads down I-94 to Illinois-Chicago. The Wildcats’ first nonconference games in two weeks will mark a break from the chase for one of the six conference tournament spots.
Today’s doubleheader against the Flames (34-18) will also serve as thorough preparation for the Cats. NU (22-16-1) faces No. 22 Iowa in a two-game series this weekend, the outcome of which will determine the Cats’ postseason placement.
“The way I told (the players) to approach UIC is like we’re playing Iowa,” NU coach Kate Drohan said. “We have to get used to playing with that urgency and high energy we’ll need this weekend.”
NU is coming off seven straight conference contests. The Cats went 4-3 in that stretch but ended with a doubleheader loss to Wisconsin on Sunday.
“We were really disappointed in ourselves,” freshman Erin Mobley said. “We know we can play better than we showed. Wisconsin is a good team, but dropping two to them was definitely not what we had expected.”
The pair of one-run losses to the Badgers left the Cats in disarray. But a strong week of practice heading into the matchup with Illinois-Chicago has settled them down a bit.
Mobley said a good outing today could put the Cats back on track.
“The games are going to be great practice for us for the weekend,” Mobley said. “It will give us a chance to work on the intensity and the focus we will need to face Iowa.”
Iowa is arguably NU’s biggest softball rival, so the Cats won’t need any extra motivation this weekend. But the Flames will provide a chance to garner national recognition.
“With UIC, it’s an opportunity to beat a regionally ranked opponent,” Drohan said. “That’s important if we’re looking ahead two weeks to getting a bid in the NCAAs.”
Despite their focus on Illinois-Chicago, the Cats still have this weekend’s games against Iowa on their minds because of their implications on the playoff race. Drohan said the focus on Iowa has both its ups and downs.
“Everyone is so into it at practice,” Drohan said. “Everybody is focused on softball and everyone is excited about playing, but tomorrow’s games might be difficult because everyone has Iowa on their minds.”
Rebounding effectively from the disappointment against Wisconsin will be even more meaningful to the Cats on a personal level. Saturday will be Parents Day, and Sunday will be Senior Day.
“Our seniors mean a lot to us,” Mobley said. “We want to go out strong for them, and give them as much as we can.”
Drohan said that the ability to produce the mental toughness and focus necessary to compete with the Flames and Hawkeyes might be tough in other situations, but not with her team’s current one.
“The team is pretty loose right now,” Drohan said. “They’re excited with the opportunity to make the postseason. Last year they didn’t have that, and now they’re going to go after it.”
