Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Kansas (ASU Triangular)
Wildcats Fall to Kansas 11-1 in Five Innings
2/7/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 7, 2004
TEMPE, Ariz. - One day after dominating Kansas 5-0 in both team's season opener, Northwestern's fate reversed as the Jayhawks' offense came to life in a 11-1 win in five innings. The loss drops Northwestern to 2-1 overall while Kansas picked up its first win of the season.
Kansas did not score a run in the first day of the Arizona State Triangular, also losing to the host Sun Devils 2-0. However, the Jayhawk bats woke from their slumber in the first inning.
Freshman pitcher Eileen Canney, who picked up her first collegiate win in the 'Cats' 6-5 victory over ASU, issued walks to the game's first two batters and both scored when XXX Settlemier hit a grand slam over the left field fence. The Wildcats faced a 5-0 deficit heading into the bottom half of the first inning.
It looked as though the 'Cats were poised to chip away at the lead. Leadoff hitter Sheila McCorkle blasted her first career home run to cut the Jayhawk lead to 5-1. That, however, was as close the NU would come. Kansas pitcher Kara Pierce shut the Northwestern lineup down from there, allowing only three more hits en route to a complete game four-hitter.
Kansas picked up four runs to lead 9-1 in the fourth inning on three hits and were aided by two Northwestern errors. Sandy Smith homered in the fifth inning to push to KU lead to 11-1 and Pierce retired the side in the bottom half of the inning to seal the win.
