Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Purdue
Wildcats Split Twinbill at Purdue
4/13/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 13, 2003
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
W. LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Courtnay Foster (Tucson, Ariz./Sahuaro) struck out 19 batters in 11 innings of work Sunday afternoon, but the Northwestern softball team was forced to settle for a doubleheader split at Purdue. Foster pitched a two-hitter in the opener as the Wildcats picked up a 1-0 win. She struck out nine in four innings of relief in the nightcap, but the Boilermakers bounced back to beat NU 5-3.
Purdue (27-20, 4-6 Big Ten) entered the doubleheader as the top hitting team in the Big Ten, but the Boilermakers had little success against Foster (11-6) in game one. The freshman allowed just two bunt singles, while striking out a Big Ten career-high 10.
NU (24-12, 6-6 Big Ten) put the only dent on the scoreboard in the top of the second. With one out, Kristen Amegin (W. Sacramento, Calif/Elk Grove) singled and advanced to second on an error by the third baseman on a ball hit by Robyn Pettinger (Hoffman Estates, Ill.). Both runners moved up a base on an illegal pitch by Purdue starter Leighann Burke, and Amegin ended up scoring on a wild pitch.
Purdue mounted a charge in the bottom of the fourth inning. Andrea Hillsey led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Foster struck out the next two batters, but Hillsey moved up to third on another pitch that J.C. Kira (Honolulu, Hawaii/Saint Francis) couldn't handle. It looked like the Boilermakers would tie the score on a line drive to left field by Andrea Roush, but Brett Nakabayashi (Irvine, Calif./Irvine) made a beautiful diving catch to hold Purdue at bay.
It took the Boilers until the top of the fifth inning to finally get their first hit of the game off Foster. Katie Absher was barely able to leg out a bunt single to lead off the inning, but Foster managed to strand her at second base.
After retiring Purdue in order in the sixth, Foster got the first two batters out in the seventh before Absher recorded her second bunt single of the contest. However, Foster struck out Lauren Devich looking to close out the game.
Northwestern outhit the Boilermakers 4-2 in the game, but stranded just three baserunners, while Purdue left five. Nakabayashi led the Wildcats with two hits.
As much as both teams struggled offensively in the opener, the bats came alive for both teams in the second game. NU pounded out 12 hits, while Purdue had eight, but it was the Boilermakers who got the clutch hits when they needed them.
It didn't take the Boilers long to get on the scoreboard in the nightcap, scoring a single run in the top of the first. Andrea Hillsey led off with a double to left-center, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jessie Jones.
Purdue increased its lead to 2-0 in the second when with runners on second and third, NU first baseman Jamie Dotson (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill) caught a foul pop right in front of the Wildcats' dugout for the second out. However, Dotson's momentum carried her into the dugout, by rule allowing both runners to advance a base, including Andrea Roush to home.
The 'Cats got one run back in the bottom of the second as they recorded four hits. With the bases loaded and two away, Ashley Crane (Sammamish, Wash./Eastlake) singled up the middle scoring pinch runner Jenny Glonke. Carri Leto (El Cajon, Calif./Valhalla) nearly tied the game or gave the Wildcats the lead, but she was barely retired at first base on a grounder to the right side.
NU got back to even one inning later as Nakabayashi started the frame with a single, moved to second on a bunt by Erin Mobley (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill) and scored on a single to center by Cindy Muran (Newbury Park, Calif./Newbury Park).
Purdue scored three times in the top of the fourth to regain the lead and go ahead 5-2. Tricia Lilley had a leadoff double, chasing Northwestern starter Lauren Schwendimann (Tustin, Calif./Foothill). Foster entered the game, but didn't enjoy the immediate success she did in the opener. After getting the first out, she allowed an RBI double to Shelli Messer and two batters later a two-run home run to Andrea Hillsey.
The Wildcats got one run back in the bottom half on an RBI double by Dotson and had runners at second and third with only one away, but Burke replaced Purdue starter Diana LaRiva and retired the next two batters without further damage.
After stuggling early in her game two appearance, Foster continued her dominance after that, striking out nine in four innings of work to go along with her 10 in the opener. For the day, Foster pitched 11 innings, allowing four hits and two runs while striking out 19.
Muran led Northwestern with three hits, while Nakabayashi and Dotson had two apiece. NU stranded 10 baserunners including seven in scoring position. Schwendimann (8-5) took the loss for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats return to action at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday night when they travel to Illinois-Chicago.
