Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Kansas (ASU Triangular)
Northwestern Opens Season With 5-0 Win Over Kansas
2/6/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 6, 2004
TEMPE, Ariz. - Heading into their first contest of the season, head coach Kate Drohan had perhaps more questions about her team than answers. What she did know, however, was that the Wildcats were equipped with a star pitcher in Courtnay Foster and proven catcher in J.C. Kira. It was Foster, Kira and freshman Garland Cooper who led the 'Cats to a 5-0 win over Kansas in both team's season-opener at the Arizona State Triangular in Tempe, Ariz.
Foster was brilliant in her first outing of the year, allowing only one Jayhawk hit en route to the complete game shutout. The sophomore racked up 12 strikeouts and got out of a number of potentially dangerous situations by keeping Kansas' hitters off balance with a number of tough pitches.
"Courtnay really picked up from where she left off last year," said Drohan. "We got a great performance out of her today."
The 'Cats put their leadoff hitter on board in each of the first three innings but were unable to capitalize. The offense took a while to warm up, but when the dust finally settled, it was clear that the Wildcat attack possesses some pop.
Erin Mobley broke a scoreless tie in the third inning when she slapped a hit into shallow left field to score Sheila McCorkle giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
Kansas threatened in the bottom half of the inning after Northwestern's Carri Leto made two uncharacteristic errors on successive plays. With runners on first and third with no outs and Kansas' leadoff hitter at the plate, Foster steadied and got the 'Cats out of the inning unscathed.
She stuck out the next five hitters and carried the 1-0 lead into the Wildcats' half of the sixth inning. Kira extended the Wildcat lead to 2-0 with a line-drive blast over the left-center field fence and NU never looked back. "J.C. did a great job behind the plate and her homerun really got our offense going today," Drohan said. "That is the type of game we have come to expect from her."
Cooper broke the game wide open in the top of the seventh inning with a deep homerun over the center field wall, giving the Wildcats a 5-0 advantage. Foster struck out two of the game's final three batters to wrap up the win.
Garland and Mobley led the 'Cats with two hits apiece and McCorkle was 1-for-2 with two walks.
