Cats’ Corner: Your source for NU athletics

-Tammy Williams has really gotten better defensively this year.

She had 18 errors in 2007 and 16 last year and 12 her freshman year, her first year after converting from pitcher. This year she looks like she deserves a gold glove, committing just four this season — she had one in Saturday’s game.

She has been a really calming force in the middle of the infield this season and has really stepped up as one of the defensive leaders this season. You can see her going up to Lauren Delaney to try and calm her down when she gets wild. Williams has taken ownership of this team like any senior leader is supposed to.

Have to love that play in Saturday’s game when she beat Courtney Pruner to the third base bag for the tag out while Robin Thompson was covering a bunt.

-It is no secret that Lauren Delaney is struggling with her control. As I wrote in my column today, the Wildcats will need her down the stretch and her current outings are not going to cut it.

The junior pitcher threw 15 walks in nine and one-third innings, including 11 in Saturday’s 7-6 loss. She has always had some control issues, but never like this. In comparison, Ohio State dished out four walks this entire weekend — all on Saturday as Lindsay Bodeker did not issue a free pass in five innings Sunday.

Delaney had just four strikeouts. Certainly not herself. NU needs Delaney to return to her dominant self to get anywhere in the NCAA tournament.

-Adrienne Monka has been the super freshman for the Cats so far this season. She has already broken the freshman record for home runs in a single season with 18 this season and she is closing in on Garland Cooper’s single season record of 23.

She got a step closer blasting a home run to deep center field on the first pitch in the fourth inning to get the Wildcats on the board and put some spark into NU’s struggling offense.

Monka’s home run gives her nine in-conference this season. That is one away from the Big Ten record set by Monica Amenderez of Indiana in 1998.

-Saturday’s game really showed the value of having more than one pitcher you can rely on.

Ohio State was able to depend on backup pitcher Linsay Bodecker — who pitches a not too shabby 1.76 ERA entering the weekend — to get the much-needed out against Adrienne Monka in the bottom of the fifth inning.

I really think having the second pitcher to take some pressure off the starter is vitally important. Courtnay Foster had Eileen Canney (or the other way around, they were about equal) when NU went to the Women’s College World Series in 2006. Canney had Lauren Delaney to spell her every other game in 2007 when the Cats returned to Oklahoma City.

The past two years, Delaney has not had that and the stress from pitching all those innings has clearly had some effect on her performance. There is a lot of pressure on Delaney to perform every game and the Cats very rarely play anyone you can push over.

Delaney said it would be nice to have that second pitcher to lean back on and a lot of good teams have that luxury. But she quickly pointed out she survived last year without Jessica Smith pitching significant innings. Interesting to see what will happen as Smith gets more confidence.

She pitched two and two-thirds innings, giving up three runs and five hits.

-It has been a long time since the Cats have lost four straight conference games. It has been a longer time since NU has lost by eight or more runs — effectively the run rule. That changed in the finale at Sharon J. Drysdale Field.

A tough way for this celebrated senior class to end its run at NU. Tammy Williams, Erin Dyer and the rest of the senior class are going to be dearly missed. But the group knows it has to play better this season — time for nostalgia later, I guess.

Williams after the game was focused on getting this team improved for this season and preparing for a run at the class’ third trip to the Women’s College World Series. It is still very possible with the offensive numbers this team has put up.

-The weather report for the games on the official box score?

Saturday: “60, Pretty Nice Little Saturday”

Sunday: “Thank You Northwestern Seniors”

Pregame: Setting the table once again: No. 12 Northwestern is 12-4 in the Big Ten this year and No. 11 Ohio State is 12-2. Losses this weekend are not an option if the Wildcats want to win the Big Ten title (no tournament this year). A split probably does not help much either.

Michigan, also sitting at 12-2, is playing Iowa, fourth in the conference at 9-5, today at 6 p.m. and again tomorrow.

We are underway in this big game at Sharon J. Drysdale Field.

First Inning: Lauren Delaney has a relatively easy time in the first inning, but maybe some signs of concern. Delaney is going to be key in this game. The Wildcats have really struggled when she gets wild and starts putting runners on with walks.

She got through the first two batters relatively quickly but gave up some long foul balls to left field. Maybe a worry, maybe not. She got into a little bit of a battle with Ohio State’s Sam Marder, getting behind 3-0 and throwing a wild pitch over catcher Erin Dyer’s head. But she fought back and got the Buckeyes’ star hitter to ground out to third.

A very positive start for Delaney and that is important considering some of the struggles she has had lately.

The offense will not be a worry. A crazy start as Robin Thompson bunts down the third base line and reaches first on the infield single. But Rebecca Schultz at third base makes a bad throw to first and Thompson gets to second. A bad throw from right fielder Courtney Pruner gets Thompson to third.

But Kim Reeder shows why she is one of the best pitchers in the Big Ten. She gets Tammy Williams to pop up to second and strikes out Adrienne Monka and Michelle Batts.

Missed opportunity for the Cats there. You do not get many of them against a good pitcher like Reeder.

Second Inning: Delaney getting a little wild this inning. She walked the leadoff hitter, Courtney Pruner, and hit Whitney Cooper to put runners on first and second with one out.

But senior shortstop Tammy Williams shows why she is not just known for her offense anymore. Williams put a nice tag covering third base, literally beating Pruner to the bag as Robin Thompson was covering a bunt by Alicia Herron.

Williams has really gotten better defensively this year. Williams had 18 errors in 2007 and 16 last year. She had 12 her freshman year, her first year after converting from pitcher. This year she looks like she deserves a gold glove, committing just three this season.

She has been a really calming force in the middle of the infield this season and has really stepped up as one of the defensive leaders this season.

You have to have concern with Delaney’s control so far. But it is getting the job done. With the defense playing well behind her, Delaney should feel better about going after some of these hitters.

Third Inning: Courtney Pruner gets the Buckeyes on the board first with a double to left field as Lauren Delaney has struggled getting batters out this inning.

Delaney walked two of the first three batters but was ahead in the count in both at bats. She walked them both with a full count. The two outs she got before Pruner’s two-run double were both fly outs deep into the outfield. Delaney clearly does not have her best stuff today.

The junior pitcher has really struggled with her control this season. She had 120 walks last year as the full-time starter. Entering today, she has 158 walks.

Add four walks in the top of the third and it could be a long day for the Wildcats. Delaney threw 21 balls to 19 strikes in the third as the Buckeyes added one more to take a 3-0 lead.

In comparison, Kim Reeder has thrown eight balls all game and has no walks.

Delaney has been working deep into counts and putting free runners on base, putting more pressure on the defense. This clearly got to Tammy Williams as she committed her fourth error of the year trying to field a grounder that gave up Ohio State’s third run.

Reeder has been the difference in the game. She strikes out two and gives the Cats no chance at tying the score in this inning.

Fourth Inning: Adrienne Monka has been the super freshman for the Cats so far this season. She has already broken the freshman record for home runs in a single season with 18 this season and she is closing in on Garland Cooper’s single season record of 23.

She got a step closer blasting a home run to deep center field on the first pitch to get the Wildcats on the board and put some spark into NU’s struggling offense. Monka’s home run was NU’s first hit since Robin Thompson led off with a single. Nicole Pauly followed up with a single of her own. That was all the Cats could get in the inning though.

Monka’s home run gives her nine in-conference this season. That is one away from the Big Ten record set by Monica Amenderez of Indiana in 1998.

NU continued to struggle in the top of the fourth inning. Delaney walked two straight with two outs after Rachael Shepherd reached first on a one-out error. That loaded the bases with Courtney Pruner, who has the only hit for the Buckeyes, at the plate.

Pruner delivered for Ohio State again, hitting one just past Tammy Williams and into center field. But a great play by Kelly Dyer throwing home to sister Erin Dyer to get the out and keep the Buckeyes from getting more than one that inning. It is 4-0 Ohio State though and the offense needs to wake up.

Fifth Inning: The offense clearly got some spark from Adrienne Monka’s home run the previous inning. Kelly Dyer led off the inning with a double and Jordan Wheeler drew Kim Reeder’s first walk of the game. A Tammy Williams walk later and Monka found herself at the plate with the bases loaded and two outs with Northwestern trailing 5-1.

That was enough to chase Reeder from the mound and bring in Lindsay Bodecker to face Monka.

Monka hit a hard grounder to shortstop Alicia Herron. Herron bobbled it allowing Monka to be safe at first and for Dyer to score. But Jordan Wheeler got a little greedy rounding third and is thrown out by Whitney Cooper at second base. Put one run on teh board, but a missed opportunity to get more as the Cats trail 5-2 entering the sixth.

Ohio State did not waste any time answering Adrienne Monka’s home run in the top of the fifth. Whitney Cooper doubles to left-center field and then comes home on a Rebecca Schultz single to center. The Buckeyes take a 5-1 lead.

Delaney seems to be back under some control, but Ohio State is still finding ways to get to her. It is going to be up to the offense to figure out Kim Reeder to win this one. Time is running out with the big hitters coming up at least one more time.

Sixth Inning:That last inning really showed the value of having more than one pitcher you can rely on. Delaney has struggled a bit today with her control giving up seven walks through five innings today. She started off the sixth with five straight balls and walked the first two batter — allowing Dee Dee Hillman to advance to third on two wild pitches.

On the other side, Ohio State was able to depend on backup pitcher Linsay Bodecker — who pitches a not too shabby 1.76 ERA — to get the much-needed out against Adrienne Monka in the bottom of the fifth inning.

I really think having the second pitcher to take some pressure off the starter is vitally important. Courtnay Foster had Eileen Canney (or the other way around, they were about equal) when NU went to the Women’s College World Series in 2006. Canney had Lauren Delaney to spell her every other game in 2007 when the Cats returned to Oklahoma City.

The past two years, Delaney has not had that and the stress from pitching all those innings has clearly had some effect on her performance. There is a lot of pressure on Delaney to perform every game and the Cats very rarely play anyone you can push over.

Maybe the tide turned that last inning even with the pitching change. Michelle Batts blasted one to center field. But the wind kept it in. It did enough though as  Vanessa Spears dropped the easy catch in center field for a double on the error. Nicole Pauly followed with a big blast to right field to cut the lead to one.

Erin Dyer then blasted one to deep left field, but the wind kept it in the ballpark and Spears makes sure to make the catch this time for the first out. A lot of energy now at Sharon J. Drysdale Field as the Cats have certainly seized the momentum.

The Cats survived another tight inning as Kelly Dyer made two GREAT defensive plays.

The first was a nice quick throw into the infield to keep Hillman from advancing from third. Then with two outs, Kelly Dyer threw it in quickly to her sister Erin at home to pick off Hillman on the tag attempt. The defense has had really only one hiccup behind Delaney and is giving this team every chance to make a late comeback.

Seventh Inning: Could not ask for anything more, even after giving up a run in the top of the seventh inning.

No out. Tying run at the plate. and Tammy Williams with the first crack to tie it.

After going 0-for-2 today, Williams hits a sharp liner down the right field line and scores two, with Robin Thompson just beating Sam Marder’s tag at home. Williams stops at second and the Cats trail by just one.

Adrienne Monka could not advance Williams, flying out to deep left field. Michelle Batts gave the ball a ride hitting one hard to right field but foul. Batts could not guide it further left as she struck out swinging.

Pauly makes nice contact, but Courtney Pruner makes a nice diving catch to end the game for the Buckeyes.

NU needed Lauren Delaney to be just a little bit better today to complete the comeback. Delaney gave up a run in the top of the seventh the proved to be the winner.

Alicia Herron crushed a Lauren Delaney mistake into the wall of Welsh-Ryan Arena in left field for a two-run home run, sucking all the energy out of Sharon J. Drysdale Field and giving the Buckeyes a 7-4 lead in the top of the seventh inning.

Delaney has clearly been rocked by the Herron home run. She walked two of the next three batters to put herself in a jam with two outs. But she gets out with a line out to right field.

Luckily the offense has enough life to make things interesting in the bottom.

By Robbie Levin
The Daily Northwestern

After hitting .765, driving in 13 runs and slugging 1.706 in the last five games, freshman Adrienne Monka was named the Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player of the Week.

Monka is the second Northwestern player to win the award this year as senior Tammy Williams won the award on March 10.

“It’s an honor,” Monka said. “But it’s an even bigger honor for the team because it means that we are playing well. So it’s pretty big for the team.”

In addition to raising her batting average 75 points to .404, Monka set two school records last week.

First, Monka compiled hits in eight consecutive at-bats, breaking the NU school record set by Stephanie Churchwell in 2005 and tying her for the ninth longest streak in NCAA Division I history.

Monka also blasted her 15th home run of the season in Saturday’s game against Purdue, not only making her the team leader but also setting the record for most home runs by a freshman. Williams and junior Nicole Pauly had each hit 14 long balls in their freshman campaigns.

In addition to being named Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player of the Week, Monka was also named Big Ten Player of the Week for the second time this year. Monka garnered her first Big Ten Player of the Week award on Feb. 16 after her performance at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic.

For the majority of the season, Monka has batted third in one of the most potent lineups in the country. According to coach Kate Drohan, Monka is fortunate to have such great hitters around her

“I think she’s a very skilled, very disciplined hitter,” Drohan said. “And I think our batting order is helping out too: (Williams) is in front of her and (sophomore) Michelle Batts is behind her. Everyone is just trusting in the people in front of them and behind them.”

Monka is just the third freshman to win the Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player of the Week this year.

robbielevin2012@u.northwestern.edu