EVANSTON, Ill. - Massachusetts (41-16) was six outs away from advancing to the Women's College World Series, but saw No. 4 Northwestern (47-13) tally four runs in the final two innings to take a 4-2 win in the second game of the best-of-three Super Regional series. The Wildcats then defeated Massachusetts, 9-0 in five innings of the third game to clinch the series and move on to the Women's College World Series. Freshman Whitney Mollica (Windham, N.H.) hit a two-run home run in the third inning of game two. She finished the season with a .394 batting average, 12 home runs and 61 RBI. Freshman Brandice Balschmiter (Newark, N.Y.) took the loss in both games and finished the year 32-9 with a 0.97 ERA.

In the top of the first inning of Saturday's first game, Balschmiter was able to get a 1-2-3 inning thanks to some help from her defense. With one out, NU's Tammy Williams hit a line smash heading for left-center field, but UMass sophomore short stop Stacy Cullington (Encinitas, Calif.) was able to lay-out and make the catch preventing at least a single.

In the top of the second inning, the Wildcats put its first two runners on base, but UMass turned its second triple play in less than a week to get out of the inning. Jamie Dotson led off with a walk and then pinch runner Ann Schraufnagel went to second base on a sharp single up the middle by Kristen Amegin. Then on a 1-2 count, Sheila McCorkle hit a bloop to senior Kristi Stefanoni (Columbus, N.J.) at second base. She caught the ball in the air, threw to Cullington on the second base bag for the second out and then Cullington completed the triple play by throwing over to junior Amanda Morin (Worcester, Mass.) at the first base bag in time to nab Amegin trying to scamper back.

Senior KJ Kelley (Rainier, Ore.) led off the bottom of the second inning with a walk. Cullington also walked giving the Minutewomen runners on first and second with just one out, but Northwestern pitcher Courtnay Foster was able to get our of the inning by striking out senior Lesley Ferrara (Stamford, Conn.) and getting junior Amanda Acampora (Orange, Conn.) to ground out.

In the bottom of the third inning, junior Candice Molinari (Glendora, Calif.) surprised everyone by dropping down a bunt with two outs and two strikes down the third base line. She was able to beat it out for an infield hit, the first hit of the day for the Minutewomen off Foster. Had that ball been foul, it would have been an inning-ending strikeout. The bunt turned out to be a huge play as freshman Whitney Mollica (Windham, N.H.) turned on an 0-1 pitch by Foster and crushed it over the fence in left-center field. It was her team-high 12th home run of the season and hit half-way up the wall of the basketball arena which sits about 50 feet beyond the outfield fence.

The Minutewomen had chances to give Balschmiter some breathing room as they had runners on first and second with two outs in both the fourth and fifth innings, but Foster was able to keep it a 2-0 game. A five pitch walk to Dotson made it a 2-1 game

The Wildcats made UMass pay for the runners left on base by tying the game in the top of the sixth inning. Northwestern managed to do it without putting the ball in play. Darcy Singewald led off the inning by walking. After Balschmiter got Logan to line out, a walk to Tammy Williams and then a hit batsman loaded the bases with one out. Back-to-back walks to Jamie Dotson and Kristen Amegin brought home the tying runs, but Balschmiter prevented the Wildcats from taking the lead by getting a pair of ground outs.

In the top of the seventh inning, the Wildcats were able to take a 4-2 lead with a two-out rally of their own. Logan started it with an infield bunt single and then went to third base on a sharp single up the middle by Williams. When the throw went to third base, Williams was able to go to second base. After Garland Cooper was intentionally walked, Jamie Dotson made the Minutewomen pay. After fouling off several 1-2 pitches, Dotson laced a double just fair down the left-field line. Two runs were able to score and the Wildcats now took a 4-2 lead to the bottom of the seventh.

UMass was retired in order by Foster in the seventh inning so the two teams got ready for a third and deciding game for the right to advance to the Women's College World Series. Balschmiter (32-8) was charged with four earned runs on five hits and a career-high eight walks. She fanned three batters. For Northwestern, Foster (23-6) picked up the win. She gave up two earned runs on three hits and four walks. She fanned nine.

Balschmiter got the start in game two as well and Northwestern was able to string a couple of hits together. After a two-out walk by Garland Cooper and a single by single up the middle by Jamie Dotson, Kristin Amegin gave the Wildcats a 1-0 lead with a RBI single to right-center field.

Molinari got a one-out single in the bottom of the first inning, but was thrown out trying to steal.

In the bottom of the second inning, Northwestern loaded the bases with just one out on three singles, two that did not leave the infield.Tammy Williams laced a two-run single under Mollica's glove and into left field giving Northwestern a 3-0 lead, but Balschmiter was able to get out of the inning on a fly ball and ground out.

Balschmiter began to settle down but had its work cut against Northwestern ace Eileen Canney. Canney struck out the side in the second inning and then retired all three UMass batters in the third.

The Wildcats then blew the game open in the fourth inning with a six-spot. They scored the runs on seven singles and a walk to take a 9-0 lead now heading to the bottom of the fourth inning.

After UMass went in order in the bottom of the fourth inning, senior Jenna Busa (Lexington, Mass.) came into the game to pitch the final inning. Balschmiter was charged for career-highs of nine earned runs and 13 hits. She walked two and struck out one.

Busa pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fifth, but the Minutewomen were unable to score in the bottom of the inning ending the game.

Massachusetts will close out the 2006 season with a 41-16 record. The Minutewomen return 14 players next season, including five positional starters and one pitcher. Northwestern advances to the Women's College World Series for the first time since 1986 and will face fifth-seeded Alabama in the first game on June 1. The loss also concluded the stellar careers for UMass seniors Jenna Busa, Lesley Ferrara, KJ Kelley and Kristi Stefanoni.