Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
California (Hawaii Invitational)
'Cats Fall to California, 4-2
3/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 20, 2004
HONOLULU, Hawaii -- Northwestern fought No. 3 California hard on a rainy Saturday at the Hawaii Invitational, but one bad inning sunk the Wildcats, 4-2.
NU starter Courtnay Foster dueled Cal ace Kelly Anderson for four scoreless innings before the 'Cats struck first. With Jenny Glonke on second after pinch running for Jamie Dotson, who singled, Sheila McCorkle sprayed a single to right. A California throwing error on the play allowed Glonke to cross home for a 1-0 NU lead.
In the bottom of the inning, though, The Golden Bears struck back four-fold. A pair of doubles and a couple of Northwestern errors led to four runs, staking California to a 4-1 lead.
"We played hard and confident for four innings, but let down for just a couple of outs," Wildcat head coach Kate Drohan said. "After that our presence was back. It was just that one inning."
Northwestern regained one of their runs in the top of the sixth. With the bases chock full of Wildcats, Dotson grounded into a fielder's choice, scoring Elizabeth Piatt. J.C. Kira then laced a laser beam to short that was stabbed by a leaping Chelsea Spencer for Cal, ending the NU comeback bid.
Eileen Canney pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Foster (7-4), who took the loss.
Northwestern falls to 14-5 overall and 2-1 in the Hawaii Invitational. The Wildcats return to action tonight in an exhibition scheduled for an 11 p.m. CST start time against Japanese squad Nittaidai.
