May 15, 2010

Box Score

Site: Columbus, Ohio (Buckeye Field)
Score: No. 19 Ohio State 16, Northwestern 0 (5)
Records: NU (25-23, 10-8 Big Ten), Ohio State (37-12, 16-2 Big Ten)
Next NU Event: NCAA Tournament Selection Show, about 9 p.m. CT Sunday, May 16 (ESPNU)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Northwestern suffered an uncharacteristically tough day in the field Saturday at No. 19 Ohio State, allowing 10 unearned runs in an eventual 16-0 (5) loss to the Buckeyes.

Northwestern concludes its regular season with a 25-23 overall record, 10-8 in the Big Ten. Ohio State finishes its year 37-12, 16-2 in the conference.

In the bottom half of the first, Northwestern starter Lauren Delaney (Jefferson City, Mo./Helias) battled through a 10-pitch at-bat featuring five foul balls before surrendering a walk. Ohio State then loaded the bases with no outs before Delaney got a strikeout. The next Buckeye collected a two-run single, but after that hit second baseman Nicole Pauly (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) made a great grab of a low liner before doubling off a runner at second to end the frame with the Wildcats trailing, 2-0.

In the bottom of the second, Delaney notched a pair of outs around a walk before inducing a grounder, but an error on the play kept the inning alive. The next batter hit a dying quail off the end of her bat which fell just behind first base for a two-run single to make the home team's lead 4-0 after two innings.

Freshman Kristin Scharkey (Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza) served a single into right-center with one out in the top of the third for Northwestern's first hit Saturday before stealing second base. She was unable to move any further in the frame, however.

Fielding bit the Wildcats hard in the bottom of the third. A trio of errors helped Ohio State tack on eight unearned runs along with one earned one in the half inning, giving the Buckeyes a 13-0 lead. During the inning, freshman Meghan Lamberth (Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette) entered the circle in relief, allowing the final two of those tallies.

Jordan Wheeler (Garden Grove, Calif./Los Alamitos) led off the top of the fourth with a single back through the middle, then moved to second on a wild pitch and third on a groundout by Michelle Batts (Bloomingdale, Ill./Glenbard North), but again no RBI hit was forthcoming for the `Cats.

Ohio State added three in the fourth to account for the game's final score. Jessica Smith (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon) got the final out of the inning in relief.

Delaney (11-13) went 2.1 innings and was charged with 11 runs, although only three were earned. She fanned three batters. Lamberth went 1.1 frames of relief, allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits and three walks with a strikeout. Smith recorded one out on two pitches.

Northwestern's regular season now is complete. The Wildcats will learn if they have earned one of the 64 spots in the 2010 NCAA Tournament at approximately 9 p.m. CT tomorrow night, Sunday, May 16. The selection show will air live on ESPNU.

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