Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Kansas (ASU Triangular)
Foster Tosses Shutout as Northwestern Wins 1-0
2/8/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 8, 2004
TEMPE, Ariz. - For the third time in three days, Northwestern's Courtnay Foster was simply brilliant on the mound. The sophomore picked up her third win of the season by shutting out Kansas 1-0 to give the Wildcats their fourth win of the season.
"I'm happy about my performance this weekend, but I can always improve," said Foster. "J.C. (Kira) called a great game and I was hitting spots today."
After allowing a hit in the fourth inning, Foster retired nine consecutive batters and 11 of the last 12 en route to her second shutout against Kansas. She allowed two hits in the Wildcats season-opening 5-0 win over Kansas. Foster struck out 10 to increase her season total to 27 in only three appearances.
The Wildcats had an opportunity in the first after Erin Mobley, Kristen Amegin and Garland Cooper all reached base with two outs. However, Kansas pitcher Kara Pierce struck out Eryn Manahan to end the inning.
Northwestern got on the board when Sheila McCorkle hit her third home run of the weekend. Coming into the ASU Triangular, McCorkle had never gone deep in her Northwestern career. Her round-tripper was essentially all the Wildcat offense could muster. They stranded nine runners on base and only had a runner reach third base twice.
Kansas threatened in the bottom of the seventh. Serena Settlemeier hit a double with only one out. However, Foster struck out the next batter and got KU's Melanie Wallach to line out to Manahan to end the game.
Northwestern's Erin Mobley racked up a team-high seven hits on the weekend, while McCorkle's three home runs and five RBI's were both team-highs. Her slugging percentage was .938 for the weekend.
"I just felt really comfortable," said McCorkle. "I was staying back on the ball and my hands were quick. I kept getting pitches to my strengths."
Northwestern has the week off but returns to the road Feb. 20 when the 'Cats travel to Palm Springs, Calif. where they play five games, which includes a meeting with defending national champion and top-ranked UCLA.
