After struggling to find its rhythm at the plate early on this season, the bottom of Northwestern’s lineup became a lethal weapon in its three game series at Ohio State this past weekend.
Before the Wildcats’ weekend stint in the Buckeye State, junior outfielder Ayana Lindsey and freshman infielder Ainsley Muno — coach Kate Drohan’s eighth and ninth hitters — both sported batting averages below .200 for the season. The pair combined for just 16 hits in 89 at-bats, marking the lowest averages among starters.
In an explosive weekend at the plate, the duo amassed 11 hits, many of which prolonged innings in two-out scenarios.
Muno and Lindsey each recorded three hits in the series’ opening game Friday, placing them among the five NU players with multi-hit performances.
As they batted one after the other in the ‘Cats’ lineup, the duo consistently delivered consecutive hits as they built off each other’s momentum. The pair prolonged both the fourth and fifth innings Friday when they singled with two outs and helped NU plate two additional runs.
10 of NU’s total 15 hits in its weekend opener came with two outs as the squad sporting purple and white proved adept at stepping up to bat under pressure.
In the seventh inning, Muno’s hit sparked the ‘Cats’ most lethal rally of the game when they scored five runs on five hits, cycled through the entire lineup and finalized a dominant 10-run win.
In Saturday’s 9-7 victory, the bottom portion of NU’s lineup continued to produce.
For the second straight game, Muno tallied three hits in four at-bats, including a double and a solo home run.
Although Lindsey did not register a hit in Saturday’s matchup, she legged out a throw after a fielding error in the second inning, allowing Muno to advance into scoring position for sophomore infielder Kansas Robinson at the plate.
By the time the fifth inning rolled around, the ‘Cats had already amassed a seven-run lead and had held the Buckeyes scoreless for the series’ first 12 innings. With a substantial lead firmly in tow, Drohan swapped out her some of her starters for pinch hitters.
In her first-ever collegiate at-bat, freshman pitcher Renae Cunningham launched a ball over the centerfield fence and Muno followed suit. The back-to-back home runs served as the extra push NU needed to push it over the finish line.
Just when it looked like the ‘Cats had the win all shored up, the Buckeyes nearly managed to comeback. The hosts scored seven runs in the bottom of the seventh before Cunningham re-entered the game in the circle and recorded the save.
Although the ’Cats were unable to score in the weekend’s final game, Lindsey contributed two of the team’s six hits during the loss, highlighted by a fifth inning triple.
Following the conclusion to what had been an 11-game win streak, NU will return home to host Michigan at the “J” next weekend. The Wolverines are undefeated in conference play thus far and are coming off series sweeps of both Purdue and Indiana.
For the ’Cats to extend their 30-game winning streak at home that dates back to the 2022 season, they’ll look to the bottom of their lineup to maintain the hitting consistency seen in this weekend’s series in Columbus, Ohio.
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Twitter: @AudreyPachuta
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