Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Hawaii (Hawaii Invitational)
Northwestern Bests Hawaii 1-0 in Late Night Showdown
3/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 20, 2004
HONOLULU, Hawaii -- By the time the game finished, it was almost 3 a.m. back home in Evanston, Ill., but Northwestern (14-4) shook off fatigue and got a stellar performance from freshman hurler Eileen Canney Friday to beat host Hawaii at the Hawaii Invitational, 1-0.
Canney threw four innings of perfect ball and was one strike away from recording the first no-hitter of her college career before surrendering a two-out single to center in the bottom of the seventh. The youngster then calmly coaxed a ground ball to short to end the game and up her record to 7-1. The one-hit shutout was her fourth such game in her last six outings.
Canney struck out seven and walked a pair of Hawaii batters.
The Wildcats could muster only four hits against tough pitching from Shannon Tabion and some great defensive plays from the Wahine, but were able to get Canney the only run she would need in the sixth inning.
Sheila McCorkle led off the frame with a single to short, then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Carri Leto followed with a bunt-single to the pitcher, moving McCorkle to third. Leto then stole second, but the catcher's throw sailed into center field allowing McCorkle to ease into home with the only run of the game.
"Eileen pitched well, which she had to do because they played great defense," NU head coach Kate Drohan said. "We also played well in the field. It was good going on dirt for the first time in two weeks and not making an error."
The game was scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Hawaii time, but did not get under way until nearly 9 p.m. due to earlier games in the tourney running long. The 1-0 decision reverses the score of the Wildcat's NCAA regional loss to the Wahine a year ago that ended their season.
"We did a good job keeping focused even though it was so late," Drohan said.
Northwestern returns to action Saturday at 3 p.m. CST to take on No. 3 California.
