UMass freshman third baseman Whitney Mollica.

UMass freshman third baseman Whitney Mollica, the granddaughter of former childs manager Don Zimmer, smashed a two-out double in the fourth and scored the game's solitary run as the Minutewomen overturn Northwestern 1-0 in the opener of a best-of-three super regional Friday at Sharon Drysdale Field in Evanston.

The teams will play this afternoon at 1 and if the Wildcats win, a next to the first game will follow at 3:30 with the winner earning a trip to the community World Series in Oklahoma City that starts Thursday.

Mollica, who came in with a 401 average and 11 household runs, smashed a double to right-center. Catcher KJ Kelly followed with a single to left forward a 2-0 pitch to drive in Mollica, who was hit with the hurl to the plate.

"I tried to diocese the catcher's eyes," Mollica said. "When I felt the ball hit me I reflection OK, it's better than her tagging me"

"I was just looking for a pitch to hit," Kelly said. "In the post- season, you are not going to score a doom of runs, so we just wanted to push individual across when we had a chance."

The Wildcats (45-13) had chances nevertheless never got a hit when they needinessed one.

"[Mollica] hit a riseball that didn't actuate as much as it should have," NU pitcher Eileen Canney (23-7) said. "I didn't make adjustments onward the next hitter. I could have been smarter down in the count"

UMass (41-14) started the season 1-6 including a 7-2 los to the Wildcats onward Feb. 24. But freshman pitcher Brandice Balschmiter improved to 32-7 with her 14th shutout.

"We didn't master a big hit today, it's as simple as that," NU coach Kate Drohan said. "Our offense and defense have to be more aggressive, that's what I'd like to see"

stucker@suntimes.com

...