Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Minnesota
Minnesota Takes Game One, 2-1
4/11/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 11, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Courtnay Foster has become the poster-child for the hard-luck loss. The sophomore again fell victim to a lack of run support in the first game of an Easter Sunday doubleheader with Minnesota. She struck out seven batters and allowed only two runs, but the Wildcats fell, 2-1.
As it has so many times this season, NU jumped out to the early lead in the game. Erin Mobley reached base in the third inning on a catcher's interference call after Carri Leto doubled and Sheila McCorkle singled to load the bases. Garland Cooper then drew a walk to bring home Leto and earn Cooper her team leading 19th RBI of the season.
Northwestern has outscored opponents 53-23 so far this season in the first three innings. Unfortunately, the Wildcats have had trouble making those leads stand up, and Sunday was no different.
Meg Higginbotham singled in the tying run for Minnesota in the sixth inning before Valerie Alston hit a game-winning home run in the seventh off Foster (8-11) to make the final 2-1. Foster pitched five strong shutout innings to begin the contest for Northwestern.
Leto finished the game 2-for-4 with a double and a triple for the Wildcats. McCorkle and Cooper also knocked out a pair of hits for the 'Cats in the game. NU left 11 runners on the base, the third straight game in which it has stranded double-digits.
Minnesota ace Piper Martin earned the win for the Golden Gophers, improving her record to 16-7. She has won 10 of her last 11 starts.
Northwestern's record falls to 18-13, 2-5 in the Big Ten with the loss. Minnesota improves to 24-12, 5-2 in the conference.
