Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
UIC
Wildcats Hold Off Illinois-Chicago, 5-4
4/2/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 2, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - It got a little too close for comfort in the end, but the Northwestern softball team managed to hold on to make its home opener a winner Wednesday. The Wildcats threw out the potential tying run attempting to score in the top of the seventh inning as NU held on for a 5-4 win over Illinois-Chicago. Courtnay Foster (Tucson, Ariz./Sahuraro) tied a career-high for strikeouts in a seven-inning game with 13 to pick up the win.
With the victory, the Wildcats improve to 18-10 overall (0-4 Big Ten), while UIC falls to 8-26 (1-2 Horizon).
Northwestern carried a 5-2 run into the final frame, but the Flames managed to load the bases against Foster with only one away. Cameron Astiazaran followed with a single up the middle that center fielder Jessie Wellnitz (Waterloo, Iowa/East) misplayed. Two runs scored on the play, but a relay from Wellnitz to shortstop Robyn Pettinger (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Fremd) to catcher Jamie Dotson (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill) was barely in time to nab Joyce Cathey, who was attempting to score from first, at the plate.
Astiazaran advanced to third on the play, but Foster struck out Nicole Shepard looking to end the Flames' late rally.
"We need to learn to slam the door," NU head coach Kate Drohan said. "We gave them a lot of opportunites to get back in the game."
The Wildcats came out of the gates swining, recording two runs and three hits in the bottom of the first to take an early 2-0 lead. Brett Nakabayashi (Irvine, Calif./Irvine) led off with a single and scored on a double by Erin Mobley (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill). Mobley advanced to third on a wild pitch and then later scored on an RBI single by Cindy Muran (Newbury Park, Calif./Newbury Park). NU had a chance to do further damage, but left the bases loaded to end the inning.
Northwestern tacked on two more runs in the top of the third. Dotson led off with a single and scored two batters later on a monsterous home run by J.C. Kira (Honolulu, Hawaii/Saint Francis), the first of her career, a blast that ricocheted off the scoreboard located on Welsh-Ryan Arena.
UIC got on the board with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning. With one run already in, the bases loaded and no one out, it appeared as though the Flames might break through for a huge inning. But Foster fanned back-to-back hitters and it then looked as though NU would avert any further damage. However, an infield single by Astiazaran brought home UIC's second run. Foster got out of the inning by recording her third strikeout of the frame to strand three runners.
The 'Cats tacked on an important insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. Mobley, who came within a home run of hitting for the cycle, led off with a scorching triple down the first base line, her fourth of the season. She came home to score one batter later on a sacrifice fly by Carri Leto (El Cajon, Calif./Valhalla).
"Mobley is on fire right now," Drohan said of the sophomore right fielder. "She's scoring runs all by herself. She's been very aggressive at the plate."
From there, Northwestern was forced to sweat out the top of the seventh inning to pick up the win. Foster's 13-strikeout effort tied her career-high mark that she set against Hofstra on March 6. She struck out 15 Oklahoma State batters in a 10-inning game March 8.
"Courtnay started the game hot," Drohan said. "We need to work on getting the leadoff batter (out)."
Northwestern outhit the Flames 10-7 and stranded 10 baserunners. The Wildcats return to action at 3 p.m. Friday against Ohio State at Drysdale Field to open a two-game series.
"It's a big series for us to get back on track," said Drohan. "It's a good opportunity for us."
