Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Georgia Tech (Florida Atlantic Tournament)
No. 23 Georgia Tech Shuts Out Wildcats, 3-0
2/11/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 11, 2005
BOCA RATON, Fla. -- In a pitchers' duel between junior Courtnay Foster (Tucson, Ariz./Sahuaro) and No. 23 Georgia Tech's Jessica Sallinger, Foster struck out 13 batters but the Yellow Jackets scored the game's only runs in the bottom of the sixth to defeat NU, 3-0, Friday afternoon at the Florida Atlantic Worth Invitational.
Foster walked the first batter she faced in the game before striking out the next four. She racked up 12 K's through the first five shutout innings.
Northwestern put together opportunities to score against Sallinger, but it was unsuccessful in crossing the plate.
Freshman Stephanie Churchwell (Lake Forest, Calif./El Toro) led off the game with a single, but was erased on a fielder's choice by senior Erin Mobley (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill). A single from sophomore Garland Cooper (Mission Viejo, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic) put runners on first and second with one out, but NU would not score in the inning.
In the second inning, junior Sheila McCorkle (Costa Mesa, Calif./Mater Dei) coaxed a leadoff walk and advanced on a sacrifice from sophomore Megan Hinck (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Lake Zurich). McCorkle then stole third base but NU could not drive her in.
Both pitchers mowed down the other side until the bottom of the sixth when Georgia Tech broke through for the game's only three runs.
Churchwell finished 2-for-3 to up her season average to a team-best .579. She and Cooper have now recorded a hit in all six of the Wildcats' games this year.
The Wildcats fall to 4-2 on the season, with both losses coming against schools ranked in the top-25. The Yellow Jackets improve to a perfect 5-0 on the season.
Northwestern returns to action at 4 p.m. CT in the second of back-to-back Friday games at the Worth Invitational.
