By Philip Rossman-ReichThe Daily Northwestern
When No. 6 Northwestern hosted No. 25 Ohio State earlier this season, home runs determined the outcome as the teams split their two-game regular season series.
When the No. 2 seed Wildcats faced the regular season conference champion Buckeyes in the title game of the Big Ten tournament Saturday in Columbus, Ohio, it was pitching that ruled the day.
Ohio State committed more fielding errors (three) than NU (two), but it was the Cats’ final mistake that gave the home team the Big Ten championship.
With the score tied 1-1 in the final inning, the Buckeyes had runners on first and third with two outs. Junior Darcy Sengewald, who plays third base, misfired on a throw to first base, allowing left fielder Megan Schwab to score the game-winning run.
Despite the loss, NU earned its highest NCAA Tournament seeding in school history, earning the second overall seed in the tournament.
“I think that we just need to go back to playing our best softball,” senior pitcher Eileen Canney said. “As the games become more important and you are playing better teams, (errors) can determine the outcome of the game.”
The Cats (45-11) struggled to get hits and score runners who got on base against the Buckeyes (37-16). NU got a runner on base in five of the seven innings, but managed just one hit and had only one runner in scoring position.
Senior center fielder Katie Logan had the only NU hit, scoring thanks to two Ohio State errors. Logan singled to center field, but Liz Caputo mishandled the ball, allowing Logan to advance to second.
Logan didn’t hesitate to try for third base as coach Kate Drohan waved her on. The throw to Jamee Juarez, who plays third base and pitched the final three innings, went into the dugout, and Logan was given home for NU’s only run.
“The ball got by the outfielder and Katie did a great job getting to second base,” Drohan said. “They threw behind her and then they threw it away. Katie did a great job getting around the bases.”
But the Cats made some mistakes of their own to let the Buckeyes back into the game.
In the bottom of the fourth, Canney was called for delay of game with two outs, a runner at second base and a full count on batter Christina Douglas. The umpire awarded Douglas first base, extending the inning. Juarez followed the call with a single to center field to score the runner at second and tie the game at one.
The Buckeyes nearly put another run on the board, but Schwab was called out on a close play at first for the final out of the inning.
Ohio State’s starting pitcher, Kim Reeder, allowed one hit as NU struggled to reach base. Juarez shut down the Cats when she entered the game in the fifth inning, striking out six.
“When they throw two different pitchers sometimes it can be challenging as a hitter because sometimes it can take an at-bat or so to get used to the pitcher,” Logan said. “I think that we have the strength in our lineup to get more hits in the postseason.”
Canney did her part, pitching her third game in three days. She allowed four hits and two runs – both unearned. The Big Ten’s pitcher of the year had seven strikeouts.
Canney pitched 20 2/3 innings, had 26 strikeouts and gave up four runs – only one earned – in the three games in the tournament.
NU was able to take advantage of mistakes in its semifinal against No. 10 Michigan. Down 2-0 in the bottom of the third, the Cats loaded the bases and tied the game on a hit-by-pitch and walk. Then, senior right fielder Jessica Miller hit a double off the left-field wall to score two runs, leading NU into the championship game with a 5-2 victory.
“We talk every day about momentum,” Miller said. “It was crucial to get those runs because as long as we get those few runs we can take hold of momentum.”
Unlike their outing in the championship game, the Cats were able to get on base and advance runners. Four of the five players walked by the Wolverines’ (43-11) pitchers scored.
As the No. 2 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, NU will host Illinois State, Notre Dame and Wright State at Sharon J. Drysdale Field.
NU’s regional begins against Wright State on Friday.
“We played some good games here and I think that will help us at regionals,” Sengewald said. “I think we’re going to come in ready for the regional tournament.”
Reach Philip Rossman-Reich at [email protected].
