Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Illinois
Resilient 'Cats Advance to Big Ten Tournament
5/4/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 4, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - With their backs against the wall and needing four straight wins to advance to the Big Ten Tournament, the Northwestern softball team did just that. A 2-1 win over Illinois Sunday at Drysdale Field clinched the 'Cats a sixth-place finish in the conference. Courtnay Foster (Tucson, Ariz./Sahuaro) allowed just one hit in picking up the victory.
The Wildcats (32-15, 11-9 Big Ten) will take on third-seeded Michigan State in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament Thursday morning in Iowa City, Iowa at a time to be determined. Iowa won the regular season title after Michigan dropped a pair of games to Michigan State this weekend. It will be Northwestern's first trip the Big Ten Tournament since the 2000 season.
NU needed the win to make the tournament, as Penn State defeated Ohio State 6-2. The Nittany Lions would have won a tiebreaker with the 'Cats based on having a better record against teams above them in the Big Ten standings.
"I thought we played with great focus the last two weeks," Northwestern head coach Kate Drohan said. "They attacked each game as it came and played very tough. I'm really proud of them."
After stranding a pair of baserunners in scoring position in the top of the first, the Wildcats got the first tally of the game in the third. With one away, Carri Leto (El Cajon, Calif./Valhalla) drew a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Brett Nakabayashi (Irvine, Calif./Irvine). Erin Mobley (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill) followed with an RBI single up the middle that deflected off the glove of Illinois shortstop Lindsey Hamma and went into center field. Leto came around to score from second, putting the 'Cats up 1-0.
Illinois (37-13-1, 11-7 Big Ten) answered back with an unearned run in the bottom half of the inning. Racelle Coriddi reached on a error to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a walk by Hamma. Both runners moved up a base on a flyout by Jenna Hall, before Corridi came into score on an RBI groundout by Erin Montgomery.
Northwestern recorded three hits in the top of the fifth inning, but it was a wild pitch that would score the eventual winning run. With Nakabayashi on first with one away, Mobley singled to left. Cindy Muran (Newbury Park, Calif./Newbury Park) loaded the bases with a single to short. Amanda Fortune relieved starter Sherri Taylor, and succeded in getting Robyn Pettinger (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Fremd) out on a strike out. But a wild pitch with Lauren Schwendimann (Tustin, Calif./Foothill) at the plate allowed Nakabayashi to score standing up, giving the 'Cats a 2-1 advantage.
Meanwhile, Foster was far from perfect but did what she needed to in order to get the win. Despite not allowing a hit after the second inning, Foster allowed the Illini a number of scoring opportunites thanks to four walks and two hit batters.
Illinois mounted a late charge in the sixth. With a runner on second and one out, pinch hitter Lauren Gronski grounded out to Leto at second, advancing pinch runner Laura Zobrist to third. But Foster came through with her seventh strikeout of the game, fanning Sarah Baumgartner to end the threat.
NU stranded three runners in the top of the seventh inning, but Foster retired the Illini in order in the bottom half to improve to 15-8 on the season. She stretched her streak of not allowing an earned run to 45.2 innings.
"She pitched great outs with runners in scoring position," Drohan said of Foster. "That was a huge strikeout in the sixth."
Leto, Mobley and Jamie Dotson (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill) led the Wildcats with two hits apiece, as Northwestern outhit Illinois 9-1. NU stranded 10 baserunners, while the Illini left seven on base.
"I think we have a little bit of momentum," Drohan said. "It's going to be a tough tournament. Everyone has been beating up on everyone else."
