Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Washington (Palm Springs Tourney)
Northwestern Takes Down No. 12 Washington, 3-2
2/25/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 25, 2005
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. -- Junior Jamie Dotson (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill) launched a go-ahead, three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth to propel Northwestern into the lead, then pitching and defense took over in a 3-2 win against No. 12 Washington Friday night at the Palm Springs Classic.
The Wildcats pushed their record to 2-0 in the tournament and 9-3 overall. NU defeated two ranked opponents during Friday's action, having earlier defeated No. 23/25 Long Beach State, 2-0.
Trailing 1-0 in the fourth inning, NU went to work. Sophomore Garland Cooper (Mission Viejo, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic) hit a single down the line to left, then was lifted for pinch-runner Ashley Crane (Sammamish, Wash./Eastlake). Crane was then safe at second after a throwing error on a fielder's choice hit by junior Kristen Amegin (W. Sacramento, Calif./Elk Grove).
Dotson then cleared the bases with her blast -- her third of the season -- to push Northwestern into the lead, 3-1. She now has a team- and Big Ten-leading 14 RBIs for the year.
Sophomores Megan Hinck (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Lake Zurich) and Katie Logan (Tempe, Ariz./Corona del Sol) also hit singles in the fourth, but were stranded on the basepaths.
Washington (7-4) opened the scoring with a two-out home run by Kristen Rivera in the bottom of the first inning. The Huskies would threaten again in the bottom of the third with runners on second and third, but Amegin hit the dirt at third base to smother a ground ball and gun down the runner at first to end the inning.
Washington added its second run in the bottom of the fifth inning.
After a leadoff walk in the bottom of the seventh, junior Courtnay Foster (Tucson, Ariz./Sahuaro) entered the circle for the Wildcats. Dotson erased the runner on a steal attempt, then Foster coaxed a pop up before walking Rivera. She ended the game with a foul out to pick up her first save of the year.
Sophomore Eileen Canney (Paradise, Calif./Paradise) pitched six innings to claim her fifth win of the season against two losses. She allowed two runs on two hits with seven walks and eight strikeouts.
Ashley Boek (5-2) went the distance for Washington and took the loss.
The Wildcats return to action at the Palm Springs Classic at 12:30 p.m. CT Saturday against Loyola-Marymount. NU will also face Arizona State Saturday beginning at 5:30 p.m. CT.
