No. 16 Northwestern Bests Iowa, 3-1

Sunday, April 2

Evanston, Ill.

12:00 PM

Northwestern

21-8, 3-0

Iowa

20-13, 2-1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Iowa	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	0
Northwestern	0	1	1	0	1	0	X	3	5	1

4/2/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

April 2, 2006

EVANSTON, Ill. -- No. 16 Northwestern launched three home runs for the third-consecutive game, using three solo jobs to out-homer Iowa, 3-1, in the first game of a Sunday doubleheader.

With the win, Northwestern improves to 21-8 overall, 3-0 in the Big Ten. Iowa falls to 20-13 overall, 2-1 in the Big Ten.

In the first, freshman Tammy Williams (El Dorado Springs, Mo./Osceola) led off the Wildcats' half of the inning with a double to the fence in left. One out later, she advanced to third on a fielder's choice from junior Garland Cooper (Mission Viejo, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic). Cooper's ball bounded back to the pitcher, who threw to third to beat Williams, but the freshman reached the bag with a nifty slide around the tag. No runs, however, would come of the situation.

In the second, the Wildcats did get a run on the board. With two outs, senior Ashley Crane (Sammamish, Wash./Eastlake) hit an absolute bomb over the left-field fence, over the scoreboard and nearly into the air vents of McGaw Hall for a 1-0 Northwestern lead.

Meanwhile, Northwestern starter Eileen Canney (Paradise, Calif./Paradise) blew by the first trip through the Iowa order, striking out the first five batters she faced.

In the bottom of the third, Cooper swung at the first pitch she saw and sent it sailing over the center-field fence for a solo home run, her third four-bagger in the last two games. The blast gave the Wildcats a 2-0 lead.

Northwestern's third home run of the game gave it a 3-0 lead in the fifth inning, when Williams led off the frame with a sky-high blast over the fence in center. The homer was the fourth of the season for the freshman.

Canney carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, striking out nine batters along the way. She allowed just one base runner to that point after a third-inning error. Iowa got its first hit and run of the game when Mindy Heidgerken led off the seventh with a solo home run.

Canney finished the game with 11 strikeouts to move to 10-4 on the season. The one-hitter was her fifth of the season.

Crane finished the game 2-for-3 with her home run and a single. Williams also was 2-for-3 with a homer and a double.

In both of their games against Wisconsin Friday and Saturday, the Wildcats also hit three home runs.