NCAA softball: NU, DePaul advance
Sophomore Lauren Delaney threw a one-hit shutout with 14 strikeouts, and Northwestern hit a trio of home runs to defeat Western Illinois, 6-0 Friday afternoon in the first round of the NCAA Regional at Drysdale Field in Evanston.
With the win, Northwestern advances to the Evanston Regional winner's bracket game at 11 a.m. Saturday against No. 19 DePaul.
The Blue Demons defeated Drake, 3-1, in their opening-round game Friday afternoon.
The Wildcats now are 38-13 overall on the year with their win, while the Westerwinds are 14-32 with their loss. NU has won 28 games in a row at home dating back to April 15 of last year, and is 10-1 in its opening game of the NCAA Tournament in 11 all-time appearances.
Delaney was nearly untouchable in tossing her 17th shutout of the year, improving to 35-8 overall by allowing only a fourth inning single and three walks to WIU. She has not allowed a run in her last 31 innings pitched.
Northwestern kicked off the scoring in the bottom of the second inning, getting a leadoff home run from sophomore Nicole Pauly of Palatine to take a 1-0 lead. The homer would not be the last for the Wildcats in the game, or for Pauly either.
In the bottom of the fourth, freshman Michelle Batts of Glenbard North hit a solo shot of her own with one out, sending a blast over the fence in left center for her 13th homer of the season. Pauly followed with her second home run in as many at-bats in the game, making NU's cushion three, 3-0.
Pauly's pair of power shots give her a team-best 15 on the season, eclipsing her previous career high of 14 set as a freshman. She now ranks fourth all-time at NU with 29 career home runs.
For DePaul, Marie Thompson knocked in the winning run in the 3-1 victory over Drake.
The Blue Demons (49-16) notched just four hits in the win, but three of those were extra base knocks. Amber Patton, Stephanie Blagaich, Marie Thompson and Sandy Vojik all registered hits in the win.
DePaul starter Becca Heteniak had some control problems early as she walked two of the first three batters, but Heteniak finished with 10 strike outs as she scattered four hits. The sophomore All-American has won her last 14 decisions and improves to 32-6 on the season.