Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Nittaidai (Hawaii Invitational)
Northwestern Downs Japanese University Nittaidai, 2-0
3/21/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 21, 2004
HONOLULU, Hawaii -- Northwestern braved sideways rain and another late night to defeat Nittaidai, a university from Japan, 2-0, in an exhibition match Saturday during the Hawaii Invitational. Eileen Canney and Courtnay Foster combined on a two-hit shutout for the Wildcats. NU is now 3-1 in the tournament.
The 'Cats put the only two runs they would need on the board in the top of the first inning. After Eryn Manahan reached on an error with two outs in the frame, Garland Cooper rocked her second homerun of the Invitational far beyond the center-field wall.
Canney and Foster took over from there. Canney pitched the first four innings, allowing only one hit and striking out seven. She has now allowed only three hits in 12 and 1/3 innings of work in Hawaii. Foster closed the game with three innings of one-hit ball, striking out four.
With the day's slate of games again running late, the contest did not begin until 12:46 a.m. CST, technically Sunday.
"I'm very proud of how we kept up our energy even though it was another late night," Northwestern head coach Kate Drohan said.
The Wildcats return to action Sunday with a 5 p.m. CST tilt against No. 24 Texas. NU will then play its final game in the Hawaii Invitational against another Japanese squad, Tokyo, at 9 p.m. CST.
