[NU Sports] Cats Win!

[J.R. McCullough]

I was delighted to see that the WCWS game between Northwestern and Alabama was on ESPN2 last night. I have never watched a women's softball game before, but with NU playing, I couldn't tune out.

This was a fantastic game, filled with drama and heroics. The cats got a lot of early hits, but didn't capitalize until the 3rd inning when they moved one runner home. Then, in the sixth, leading 5-4, Alabama caught some very lucky breaks on questionable calls. First, the ump called a batter hit by a pitch when, in fact, the ball hit the base of the bat. Then there was another inside pitch that hit the bat knob. The runner stepped out of the box to run for first and the ball ricocheted up and hit her chest. This should have been an out or foul ball. The cats didn't react, and the runner went to first. Both these questionable calls resulted in scores for the Tide, putting them up 6-5.

In the sixth, both teams were held scoreless, with our pitcher starting a string of strikeouts that would last well into extra innings. I think she had retired 12 of 13 batters at one point.

In the bottom of the seventh, still trailing 6-5, the Cats needed some offense to stay alive. The first two batters were easily put out, bringing to the plate a freshman named Erin Dyer. She chased two bad balls and was quickly behind 0-2 in the count. Then, with two outs and two strikes in the final inning, Dyer smacked a solo home run into center field. Unbelievable.

Behind the steller pitching of our Senior relief pitcher, we shut out the Tide for four more innings. In the bottom of the 11th, we finally got some base runners and moved over the winning run. 

This was one of the best baseball games I have ever witnessed (even if it was softball). The Cats now advance to the winner's bracket to face 8th-seeded but very potent Tennessee. The game is on tonight. Try to tune in. You won't be sorry.

J.R.