Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Purdue (Speedline Tournament)
Northwestern Takes Down Purdue 5-2 in Extra Innings
3/7/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 7, 2004
CLEARWATER, Fla. - For the second time at the Speedline Classic, Northwestern pitcher Courtnay Foster racked up 15 or more strikouts as the 'Cats downed Big Ten rival Purdue 5-2 in eight innings.
The teams were tied at 1-1 after seven innings of play, but an eighth inning rally pushed Northwestern to the win, which advanced them to a second-place final meeting with UT-Chattanooga.
Purdue scored first with a single run in the bottom of the first. Sophomore Tricia Lilley was hit by a pitch with two outs to give the team a base runner. Purdue's Kristen Schell joined her on base with an error by the first baseman, which moved Lilley to third. Andrea Hillsey picked up the RBI with a single into right field.
Northwestern tied it up in the fifth inning, combining a pair of walks, a hit and an error. With one out, Carri Leto walked, stole second and then moved to third on an Erin Mobley single to left field. The Boilermakers then intentionally walked designated hitter Garland Cooper, looking for the double play opportunity. Shortstop Eryn Manahan reached on a fielder's choice which let Leto score on an errant throw by the third baseman.
The Boilermakers had a chance to end the game in regulation with two runners aboard. Freshman Katie Fortune walked to start the inning, then senior Angela Knight was hit by a pitch, moving pinch runner Jamie Dum to second. Dum then stole third, but a pair of strike outs sent the game to extra innings.
Northwestern took control in the top of the eighth as it posted four runs on three hits and an error. Pinch runner Ashley Crane was placed on second to start the inning by way of the international tie-breaker rule. Crane then moved to third on a Kristen Amegin sacrifice bunt. Jamie Dotson walked to give the Wildcats runners at the corners, then a one-out single up the middle by Katie Logan gave NU the lead.
Lauren Olson took over for Dotson on second, then came around to score on a Sheila McCorkle single up the gut. McCorkle advanced to second on the throw, giving Northwestern two runners in scoring position. Brooke Baker came in to relieve sophomore Diana LaRiva on the mound and face Leto, who singled just over the head of the second baseman, allowing both runners to score. Mobley reached on an error by the first baseman, moving Leto to third. Leto then tried to score on a wild pitch, but catcher Erika Peterson tossed the ball to Baker, who made the tag to end the inning.
Lilley was placed on second to start Purdue's final inning, then Kristen Schell walked to give the Boilermakers two men on. Hillsey then hit a single through the left side and advanced to second on the throw, moving pinch runner Catherine Zaworski to third and driving Lilley home. Foster then struck out three straight Purdue batters to seal the Northwestern win.
Northwestern scored five runs on seven hits while committing one error, as Purdue put up two runs on five hits, while recording four miscues. The Wildcats left 11 runners aboard in the game, while Purdue stranded 10 runners.
Foster walked two Purdue batters and did not allow a single earned run.
