Softball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Northwestern bounced back from a dismal weekend at Michigan last week to defeat Purdue 2-0 in its first-round Big Ten tournament game Thursday.
On a day when sophomore Garland Cooper was named Big Ten Player of the Year and coach Kate Drohan was named co-Big Ten Coach of the Year, the Wildcats (38-14, 16-3 Big Ten) were hitting the ball well against the Boilermakers (34-24-1, 10-11) but had more trouble bringing the runners home.
Junior designated player Kristen Amegin had a home run in the second inning and an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth to lead NU in the victory.
“I felt right on the ball,” Amegin said. “We did our homework and we knew what was coming.”
Junior pitcher Courtnay Foster threw a four-hit shutout and struck out seven batters in the game.
Foster is now 4-1 in Big Ten tournament play and has given up just four earned runs in 39.2 innings, good enough for a 0.71 ERA.
Foster closed the game out by striking out the first two batters in the seventh inning before getting Purdue’s final batter to fly out to second baseman Kelly Odell.
“I really like the way Courtnay is throwing the ball,” Drohan said. “She definitely wanted the ball today and she worked ahead with her batters. I’m very, very pleased with her outing today.”
NU has now held Purdue scoreless for 24 straight innings, dating back to last year, when the Cats gave up three runs in the first inning of a 13-3, six-inning run-ruled game.
After Amegin hit her home run, the Cats threatened again in the third inning when senior Erin Mobley hit an infield single, and Cooper followed the hit with another single to put runners on first and second.
On Cooper’s hit, Purdue shortstop Tricia Lilley made a diving stop but was unable to flip the ball to second in time to get Mobley.
Junior Jamie Dotson was walked to load the bases, but Amegin hit into an inning-ending double play.
“I was just aggressive and I think it was just one of those balls that just got played right,” Amegin said. “Perfect spot, didn’t have to really move and she just quick-throwed it. There’s not too many places the ball can be hit to get a double play, and it’s just unlucky.”
In addition to Cooper and Drohan, five other NU players received All-Big Ten honors. Freshman Stephanie Churchwell, Mobley and Foster were each named First-Team All-Big Ten along with Cooper, and Dotson and sophomore pitcher Eileen Canney were named Second-Team All-Big Ten.
“I talked to the girls a little bit before the game,” Drohan said. “You know there’s only one award that really matters, and that’s a team championship. So that’s what we’re really focused on.”
NU will take on the winner of the Iowa-Penn State game at 4 p.m. Friday.
Iowa will play Penn State at noon Friday.
“We have an idea (of both opponents) and we have video we can study,” Amegin said. “We’ve seen all the pitchers so far, so I think that we feel really confident.
“We’re going to go out tomorrow looking to win.”
Reach Paul Tenorio at [email protected].
