It was almost a storybook ending. With two outs, a runner on second and Northwestern down, 4-3, Gretchen Barnes (Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) stepped up to the plate needing a home run to break the school's single-season record and send the 'Cats to the Big Ten Tournament. Barnes took a Kristi Hanks offering deep into left field, but the shot came up just a few feet short. The left fielder caught the long fly ball at the edge of the fence, giving No. 22 Iowa a 4-3 win.

The game was a pitcher's duel, with occasional home runs providing the offense. Lauren Schwendimann was in the circle for the 'Cats, and did not allow a hit until Lori Leon went deep to center with two outs in the fourth.

The Hawkeyes held the 1-0 lead into the fifth, but with one out Rane Gunderson (Minnetonka, Minn./Minnetonka) roped a ball over the center-field fence to knot the game at 1-1. The home run was only the second of season for the Wildcats' number nine hitter.

The Hawkeyes kept the long ball game going in the sixth when Jessica Bashor hit a ball that just stayed fair long enough to clear the left field fence. This home run did more damage then the first, as the Hawkeyes had two runners on base.

With Iowa up 4-1 in the seventh, the Wildcats put on an exciting rally. Gunderson singled and advanced to third on an error by Hanks. She came home on a Erin Jancic's (Houston, Texas/Elsik Alief) sacrifice fly to right. With two outs, Brett Nakabayashi (Irvine, Calif./Irvine) drew a walk to bring the tying run to the plate. Carri Leto (El Cajon, Calif./Valhalla) doubled to right, bringing home Nakabayashi and putting herself in scoring position. That set the stage for Barnes.

Schwendimann allowed just three hits in seven innings of work, while striking out seven and walking one.

The 'Cats return to the field tomorrow for Game 2 versus the Hawkeyes. First pitch is at noon. NU needs a win tomorrow or a sweep by Wisconsin over Minnesota in order to make the postseason.