Five-year break? They didn't miss a step.
Playing in their first Big Ten Tournament since 2008, Northwestern softball cruised past Indiana by a 6-3 final Thursday at Nebraska's Bowlin Stadium. Advancing to the Tournament quarterfinals, the 'Cats were paced by seven extra-base hits and a complete game from sophomore ace Amy Letourneau.
Scoring was opened up in the second inning, when shortstop Anna Edwards lifted her eighth home run of the season to give Northwestern a 1-0 edge. Indiana battled right back in the top of the third with a leadoff triple from outfielder Jenna Abraham, but Letourneau, the first Big Ten player to lead the conference in batting average and strikeouts in the same season, battled back to induce three staight Hoosier outs and left unscathed.
The Wildcats seized the momentum right back, with bottom-of-the-order sophomore sparkplug Olivia Duehr doubling before an RBI single from junior Mari Majam. A towering homer from junior Marissa Bast followed, breaking the game open with a 4-0 Northwestern lead.
The Hoosiers called for a pitching change, taking out lefty Meaghan Murphy after just 2.1 innings. Sophomore Lora Olson was immediately greeted by Letourneau, who delivered a double to right field. Sophomore Andrea DiPrima reprised with a double of her own to score Letourneau and give the Wildcats a commanding 5-0 lead through three.
Indiana battled back to make some noise in the top of the fourth inning, beginning with a leadoff longball from freshman Kassi Farmer. After inducing a bases-loaded walk from Letourneau, the game was drawn back to 5-2.
Letourneau got one of those runs back with a blast to left in the sixth, and would push on in the circle for a three-run complete game. Northwestern plays fourth-seeded Wisconsin Friday at 11:30 a.m. If the 'Cats get an encore performance from Letourneau's arm or bat, you have to like their chances.