During the past two seasons, the number 13 has been anything, but unlucky on the Northwestern softball team.
Wearing the jersey last season, Wildcats sophomore pitcher Courtnay Foster posted a 19-10 record with 292 strikeouts and 1.32 earned run average in 217.2 innings of work.
Now after relinquishing the number to Big Ten freshman of the year pitcher Eileen Canney (18-3), Foster has had a letdown in her second year at NU.
While not a full blown sophomore jinx, Foster’s 14-14 record, 1.64 ERA, and 219 strikeouts this season are below the statistics she posted in her rookie season.
“I anticipated having about a trillion times better season,” Foster said.
NU coach Kate Drohan said her decision of who will start against sixth-seeded UC-Santa Barbara in the No. 3 Cats’ opening round game of the double-elimination Arizona Regional today at 10 a.m. will be one of her last decisions before the game starts.
In the Big Ten tournament last weekend, Foster pitched only two and a third innings, giving up five hits and no runs to Minnesota in the tournament’s opening round game.
Drohan then passed on Foster in the Cats’ semifinal matchup with Michigan State, favoring Canney in the losing effort.
“(The Big Ten tournament) was not as good as I would have hoped, obviously” Foster said. “I didn’t get that many innings in, and I didn’t really do as well as I wanted to.”
Instead of sitting atop the pitching staff as the undisputed ace heading into the NCAA Regional tournament like she did last season, Foster must compete with Canney for time in the circle this weekend.
“Courtnay is definitely on her way up right now, and I’m looking for her to get some good innings (in the Regional tournament),” Drohan said. “I think it’ll be tough (to decide who pitches), but I think either one will be a good choice.”
To choose between the pair, the coaching staff will look at aspects of the opposing players game such as how often they strike out, hit home runs and steal bases, and if they are a slap hitting team, Drohan said.
“It’s been a long time since the coach at Northwestern has had to make these decisions,” she said. “We haven’t had depth like this on the mound, but whoever we have out there will be ready to go.”
But Drohan said she would rather be faced with a difficult decision before every game than have only one ace pitcher.
When the majority of teams have one pitcher they ride through the postseason, NU has two quality hurlers it can place in the circle.
“I think it will help us out if we have to play a lot of games this weekend,” Drohan said. “Having some freshness on the mound will make a difference. Hopefully, we won’t be in that situation and stay in the winner’s bracket.”
Drohan said Foster’s experience in Regional competition will be a factor in her decision on who to start, but it is just one of many.
Foster said she remains confident in her pitching abilities and hasn’t been shaken by the challenges of her sophomore season.
“I’ve been throwing really well in practice, and the coaches and I have had some conversations,” Foster said. “I’m not worried about it. This year and last year are two totally different seasons, and you have to recognize that this isn’t last year.
“All I care about is taking our team as far as we can go. Obviously, I’m disappointed with myself this season a little bit, but that doesn’t mean I can just say, ‘Better luck next year.’ We still have games to play.”
