May 26, 2006

EVANSTON, Ill. -- No. 4 seed Northwestern hit the ball hard off Massachusetts' ace Brandice Balschmiter, but the Minutewomen made some amazing plays in the field -- including a diving catch to end the game and prevent a run in the seventh -- to take a 1-0 lead in the NCAA Evanston Super Regional with a 1-0 win Friday afternoon at Sharon J. Drysdale Field.

The two teams now square off again at 1 p.m. CT tomorrow, Saturday, May 27 in the second game of the series. A Northwestern victory in that contest would force a game three to be held immediately following.

The contest began with the teams trading impressive double plays in the first inning. With a runner on first and one out in the top of the frame, Northwestern starter Eileen Canney (Paradise, Calif./Paradise) induced a ground ball to senior second-baseman Ashley Crane (Sammamish, Wash./Eastlake), who flipped to freshman shortstop Tammy Williams (Roscoe, Mo./Osceola) to start a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play.

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