When it rains, it pours.
A five game slate for the Wildcats turned into a Saturday doubleheader after prodigious rain and snow coated Columbus, Ga., and a team that had been alternatively shut out and bombarded last weekend churned out excellent pitching and hitting in droves.
After travel difficulties and rain cancelled NU’s first two scheduled games against Louisiana-Lafayette and LSU, the Cats came out and beat Long Island 11-0, then beat Hofstra 3-1. NU’s games were delayed six hours from their original start time, and NU’s original second opponent, Georgia Tech, left the tournament early, forcing NU to play Hofstra.
“The team was just really excited to play,” coach Kate Drohan said. “It didn’t matter what time it was, who we were playing. We were just excited to play.”
Although it didn’t really affect the games, weather was the story of the weekend. Conditions from an average rain delay to a tornado watch cancelled the Cats’ games on Friday and Sunday and caused 11 of the 21 teams at the NFCA Leadoff Classic to pack their bags and go home before the end of the tournament, wreaking havoc on the tournament schedule.
“Our team’s ability to stay sharp while waiting all day to play was a big advantage for us,” Drohan said. “Our team came ready to play.”
The shutout of Long Island came only a week after the Cats had lost to the same team 11-6 at the Cathedral City Classic.
“It wasn’t like we were playing a different team,” pitcher Lauren Delaney said. “I think we felt more like we were a different team. We were a lot looser this weekend than we were last weekend, and we were feeling a lot better when we were playing.”
While last week Delaney gave up five runs to the Blackbirds, she shut down the opposition in a five inning one-hitter that featured 12 strikeouts.
“Lauren made some very good physical and mechanical adjustments throughout the week,” Drohan said. “I think Lauren’s attitude and approach throughout the game was exceptional. It’s what we’d seen through her 37 wins last year.”
The game featured a tremendous all-around hitting display as well. Although the Cats pushed across 11 runs, forcing the game to end early by the run rule, no NU hitter homered – but all nine starters reached base.
“We put together some really good at-bats,” Drohan said. “We were able to keep the pressure out there the entire game.”
The second game was less lopsided. The differential was provided by a first-inning two-run home run by Nicole Pauly. NU’s other run was manufactured by Robin Thompson, who stole second and advanced to third on an error before scoring on an Adrienne Monka single. Delaney held the lead by allowing only one run in her second complete game of the day.
“We got out to a lead in the first inning, and shut them down,” Delaney said.
In terms of softball, the horrendous weather did little more than make the outfield soggy. It proved that rain or shine, or snow, or tornado watch, the Wildcats are ready for softball.
“We had a couple of adventures with our travel trying to get down to Georgia,” Drohan said. “But after the delays, our team came out and we were really aggressive.”
