No. 12 Northwestern benefited from great pitching Tuesday even with their ace cheering on from the dugout.
Reigning Big Ten Pitcher of the Week Lauren Delaney got a rare day off. In her place, freshman starter Jessica Smith pitched a complete game, allowing just one run over five innings while leading the Wildcats (29-10, 13-1) to a 9-1 victory over Illinois-Chicago.
“I was blown away by (Smith’s) performance,” coach Kate Drohan said. “It was incredible how she worked ahead in the count. She hit her spots, and she was spinning the ball really well. I’m just really, really pleased with what I saw from her.”
Drohan stressed the importance of defense over the last several weeks, and the practice was justified against Illinois-Chicago. Smith struck out just two batters, leaving the rest of the work to the defense. A first-inning double play bailed NU out of an earlier error and each of the last seven batters Smith faced went down via infield ground balls.
“The defense was tremendous,” Drohan said. “I think the double play in the first inning really set the tone, and then they were aggressive after that. That’s the key to Jessica Smith’s game and I’m very excited about how the two worked together.”
Smith had not started since March 30 against Minnesota and has had her fair share of struggles this season. She attributed her success against the Flames to her mental preparation.
“I kind of just changed my attitude,” Smith said, “I had a positive attitude for the game, and just got in a good rhythm.”
In addition to the excellent start, the Cats’ success came from the continued hot hitting up and down the lineup.
Fueling the offense once again was Nicole Pauly. The sophomore hit two balls that easily cleared the fence in right-center, maintaining her hot bat from last week, when she won the conference’s Player of the Week award.
“It’s fun to win the honor, but I think that I was looking to this game, and to next weekend more than anything else,” Pauly said. “I just went in the box not thinking about anything, and just driving the ball where she pitched, and that’s kind of what everyone did (on Tuesday).”
In addition to Pauly’s pair, NU got home runs from junior shortstop Tammy Williams and sophomore designated player Emily Haug. Batting leadoff, freshman leftfielder Jordan Wheeler contributed three hits, and she fought hard in the one out she did make.
In the fourth inning, Wheeler saw seven pitches before flying out on the eighth. She came back in her next at-bat and singled on the first pitch, and crossed the plate to bring the run rule into effect.
Wheeler scored that run on a Michelle Batts fifth inning double. Batts saw eight pitches in her at-bat before drilling the ninth down the line, plating two runs and sealing the Cats victory.
Even the bench player contributed to the offensive outburst. Pinch running for junior catcher Erin Dyer in the second, sophomore Aly Euler stole a base and scored a run. Sophomore Ashley Lafever also stole second and scored when she pinch ran for Batts in the third inning.
Pinch hitter Darcy Sengewald drew a walk in the fifth and would later score on Batts’ game-ending double.
“We’re pulling people out of the dugout, to pinch run or pinch hit, and they’re having outstanding at-bats, they’re stealing bases, and they’re putting pressure on the defense,” Drohan said. “Those little things are what make a good offense, and I’m really excited about that.”
The Cats have now outscored their opponents 56-3 in the last six games. They are working on a six-game winning streak and have won 16 of their last 17.
This weekend, NU squares off with Penn State, and then with co-Big Ten leaders No. 6 Michigan on Sunday.
