Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Oregon (Speedline Tournament)
Oregon Rally Sinks Northwestern 9-8
3/5/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 5, 2004
CLEARWATER, Fla. - No. 14 Oregon rallied from a 5-0 deficit to defeat Northwestern 9-8 at the Speedline Tournament. The Wildcats drop their first game of the tourney and slip to 9-4 overall on the season, while Oregon won its 14th consecutive game to improve to 17-4.
With the Ducks trailing 5-0 in the fourth inning, freshman Kristi Leiter hit her first career home run -- a three-run shot over the right field fence -- to tie the game. The home run came just after freshman Suzie Barnes hit a two-RBI single to finally put the Ducks on the board. Duck freshmen had six of Oregon's seven RBI, led by Leiter's three and Barnes' two.
Northwestern added a run in the top of the fifth inning to take the lead, 6-5, but Oregon quickly loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning. With the bases loaded, Northwestern pitcher Courtnay Foster threw two consecutive illegal pitches, advancing the runners and allowing the Ducks to go ahead, 8-6.
It didn't take long for Northwestern to knot the game once again after a two-RBI single by J. C. Kira in the top of the seventh inning evened the score at eight.
Topps then walked to lead off the bottom of the inning and advanced on a sacrifice by Barnes. With two outs, Goodell drove the ball to left field, scoring Topps and securing the win for Oregon. Northwestern is back in action tomorrow when it takes on Jacksonville in the final game of pool play competition at the Speedline Tournament.
