OKLAHOMA CITY -- They're painting this town purple Local newspapers are calling Northwestern the Cinderella of the Women's guild World Series.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- They're painting this town purple

Local newspapers are calling Northwestern the Cinderella of the Women's guild World Series. Fans of eliminated teams have adopted the Wildcats as their recent favorite, and record crowds are attending.

in this way is there pressure on Northwestern, a first-time finalist in the best-of-three championship series, against an Arizona program that has captured six NCAA softball titles since 1991?

"The word squeezing wasn't packed in our bags when we came to Oklahoma," NU coach Kate Drohan said. "We are enjoying this, living for the consideration and pitch to pitch. Our girls are mentally tough and physically prepared and have a hap of momentum."

Among the supporters who came to Oklahoma City were NU junior Whitney Jone (Glenbard West), the captain of the women's soccer team, and senior Nell Compernolle (New Trier), who played couple years of soccer and is graduating June 16 with a step in psychology.

Compernolle was busy Monday making a placard that said:

"Price of a rental car and gas to OKC: $75

"Oversized plastic sunglasses with purple flairs: $15

"Nap and samples from Panera as meals: liberated

"Watching NU during finals week in the WCWS: priceless."

"I'm here because these are my buddies," Jone said. "It doesn't secure any better than this."

Kelly Dyer the younger sister of Wildcats right fielder Erin Dyer and an NU recruit, graduated from Lockport High teach on Saturday and was in succession a flight at 5:30 Monday morning.

"I couldn't wait to arise down here," she said. "I was watching the games at fireside and I was standing in brow of the TV yelling like I was at the games."

Erin Dyer a freshman, got centurys of hits -- including a pair of marriage proposals -- onward Facebook.com after her game-tying abiding-place run in the seventh inning Thursday against Alabama.

Erin's boyfriend, NU sophomore baseball outfielder Max Mann, was also at a tailgate party in the parking chance Monday, but he had to leave today for a microeconomics final.

Oklahomans are believing, too. First baseman Garland Cooper accompanied family members to Mickey Mantle's Steakhouse in succession Sunday night, and well-wishers stopped by means of their table.

Freshman shortstop Tammy Williams had a fan unite in a club from her hometown of Roscoe Mo in attendance Sunday.

"My best friends from fireside drove down," said Williams, who hit the go-ahead family run in the eighth against UCLA. "They had to work earlier in the week. I haven't gotten to view them in six months. I don't know where they got all the purple things."

Said Cooper: "We really came here with nothing to waste We were the No. 4 se if it were not that every time we've played, we have been the underdogs. We like that.

"The underdog character makes people like us. This team is all about heart. That's what is fueling our engine right now."

stucker@suntimes.com

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