May 1, 2008

Northwestern's Weekend Game Notes (PDF Format)

EVANSTON, Ill. -- No. 11 Northwestern enters Senior Weekend this Saturday and Sunday, May 3-4, with a share of the Big Ten lead, adding to the excitement in store for fans in its final conference series of the season against Michigan State.

The Wildcats and Spartans will face off once on Saturday and once on Sunday, with both games scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. CT. The Big Ten Network will broadcast both contests live from Sharon J. Drysdale Field.

Northwestern and No. 6 Michigan are in a dead heat at the top of the conference standings with 16-2 records. Should the Wildcats earn a sweep of the Spartans, and UM best Penn State in two games in University Park, Pa., this weekend, the two programs would share the 2008 Big Ten Championship. With all tiebreakers between Northwestern and Michigan equal in that scenario, the Wildcats would earn the No. 1 seed and the right to host the Big Ten Tournament by virtue of a coin flip already performed at the conference office.

Following Saturday's game, Northwestern will hold its second-annual Purple Auction in Welsh-Ryan Arena, featuring great food, refreshments and auction items while celebrating and preparing for the past, current and future success of NU softball. More information on the Purple Auction can be found on the softball page at NUsports.com.

On Sunday, the Wildcats will honor senior Darcy Sengewald (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) with a variety of contests and prizes, including limited edition Darcy Sengewald bobbleheads. There will be a "D$" themed edition of "Softball Search" as well as a line dancing contest during the game, all in honor of NU's 2008 senior.

Sengewald enters her final two regular-season home games ranking third in Northwestern history in walks with 88 and sixth in runs scored with 108. A clutch player, she is a two-time Big Ten All-Tournament team selection, and owns a Women's College World Series home run -- hit in 2006 off former USA Softball National Player of the Year Monica Abbott of Tennessee. On Tuesday, Sengewald launched her 10th-career homer, this one coming against No. 1 Alabama.

The Wildcats are coming off a tough stretch of schedule, having just played four-consecutive games against ranked opponents including three versus top-10 foes. NU earned a split at No. 6 Michigan last Sunday before taking a lead into the seventh inning Tuesday against No. 1 Alabama, eventually falling in extra innings in that contest.

Also on Saturday night, Immaculate High School in Danbury, Conn., is inducting Northwestern head coach Kate Drohan into its athletic Hall of Fame. A three-sport athlete and 1991 graduate, Drohan was a back with the field hockey team, a point guard in basketball and catcher for the softball Mustangs. Her high school softball coach, Kevin Dunleavy, will induct her into the Hall.

The Series
Northwestern leads, 59-28. The Wildcats have won their last six meetings with the Spartans, and are 11-5 overall against MSU during the first six years of the Drohan era.

The Broadcasts
The Big Ten Network will broadcast both games of NU's series against Michigan State live from Sharon J. Drysdale Field. Tracy Warren will handle play-by-play duties with two-time Wildcats' All-American Eileen Canney providing color commentary. Also, Northwestern student radio WNUR 89.3 FM will broadcast Sunday's contest live over the air. Fans also can listen online by going to sports.wnur.org.

For Northwestern's complete weekly game notes, click on the .pdf link at the top of this page.