Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Penn State
Wildcats Down Nittany Lions, 4-1
4/16/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 16, 2004
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Sophomore Kristen Amegin continued her torrid pace against Big Ten opponents, hitting her sixth home run of the season and driving in all four Northwestern runs in a 4-1 win over Penn State Friday in State College, Pa.
The third baseman has now hit home runs against NU's last three Big Ten foes, including Wisconsin and Minnesota last weekend. Her four RBIs give her a team-leading 23 on the year while her six homers are also a team-best.
"Kristen continues to come up with the long ball in clutch situations," Wildcat head coach Kate Drohan said.
With Northwestern leading 1-0 in the third inning, Sheila McCorkle and Garland Cooper drew walks before Amegin hit an opposite field blast to extend NU's lead to 4-0. Cooper drew three bases-on-balls in the game, upping her on-base percentage to .483 for the season. Her on-base plus slugging percentage is a Barry Bonds-like 1.120 for the year.
McCorkle and Erin Mobley both rapped out a pair of hits in the game for Northwestern.
Freshman Eileen Canney controlled the game throughout, holding Penn State to one run on four hits to pick up her 12th win of the season against only two losses. Canney struck out eight Nittany Lions and has now won her last five decisions. She was riding a 25-inning scoreless streak before surrendering a run to Penn State in the sixth.
"Eileen did a good job keeping Penn State's hitters off balance all night," Drohan said.
Northwestern opened the scoring in the first inning when Amegin grounded out with the bases loaded, plating Carri Leto. With the win, the Wildcats' record improves to 21-13 overall, 4-5 in the Big Ten.
Missy Beseres (7-13) started the game and picked up the loss for Penn State. Beseres' older sister, Jenni, played for Northwestern from 1996-99 and was an NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete for the 'Cats.
NU returns to action tomorrow with an 11 a.m. Central time contest against Penn State before traveling to Columbus, Ohio, for a Sunday doubleheader with the Buckeyes.
