At the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz., the No. 9 Wildcats alternately dominated, disappointed and dealt with drizzle. Playing its first games of the season, Northwestern finished the weekend 2-2, but the record hardly tells the story.
In the opener against Cal State Bakersfield on Friday, NU started its season with a bang. Led by a combined effort from juniors Lauren Delaney and Kelly Dyer in the circle, the Cats limited the Roadrunners to just three hits and two walks.
The pitching performance was complemented by a strong showing at the plate, as NU racked up seven runs on nine hits to compete the 7-0 shutout. Leading the Cats was USA Softball player of the year candidate Tammy Williams. The senior, who has started every game at shortstop for the past four years, compiled two hits in three at-bats and scored two runs.
“I think we came out and played pretty well in the first game,” Williams said. “We definitely made some mistakes and we have things to learn from that game, but I think that it was a good start to the season.”
Several hours later, the Cats’ pitching stayed hot, but the offense was lacking. Against No. 23 Nevada, Delaney took the circle again, this time striking out 14 while pitching 10.2 innings. Delaney allowed only two runs – one earned – on four hits in the second longest outing of her career, but Wolfpack pitcher Katie Holverson was better. Holverson allowed one run on two hits while fanning 17, stymying the Cats for the better part of 11 innings.
She allowed just one run, a Kelly Dyer homer in the sixth inning. After three extra innings, the Wolfpack ended the contest, scoring one run in the bottom of the 11th inning.
“I think it was good to get a game like that in,” Delaney said. “It was a good pressure situation and I think we really learned from that.”
On Saturday against No. 7 Arizona, Dyer provided an offensive spark once again, as her second home run ignited a three-run fifth inning for NU. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded, junior Nicole Pauly drove in sophomores Kelly Quinn and Robin Thompson. Delaney pitched another gem, surrendering just four hits and five walks as the Cats won 3-1.
In its Saturday nightcap, NU faced Kansas. The game got off to a quick start, as Pauly and senior Erin Dyer both homered in the first inning. Not to be outdone, the Jayhawks scored seven runs off starter Kelly Dyer in the bottom half of the inning.
The teams settled down for several innings, but NU rejuvenated its offense in the fifth. After Williams knocked in Thompson from third, Erin Dyer blasted her second home run of the game, tying the score at seven.
“I was really happy with the way the team banded together and decided that we weren’t going to let that 7-2 lead get us down,” she said.
Unfortunately for NU, Kansas was able to scrape together one run in the next inning. The Cats failed to score in their half of the seventh, and the contest ended with Kansas on top 8-7.
NU was scheduled to play Oklahoma State on Sunday, but the game was canceled due to rain.
With the rainout, the Cats were forced to end their weekend with a loss, but according to Williams, that may not be entirely bad.
“(Against Kansas) we came back and fought the entire way,” Williams said. “And just seeing that push from everyone really showed the character of our team, that we’re really not scared to take on any challenge.”
