Feb. 13, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern swept the Big Ten Player and Pitcher of the Week honors for the week of Feb. 9. Sophomore Courtnay Foster was named Pitcher of the Week, while classmate Sheila McCorkle earned Player of the Week honors.
This marks the fourth time Foster has garnered the award. McCorkle earns POW honors for the first time in her career. The duo powered Northwestern's 4-1 start in season-opening weekend at the Arizona State Triangular. Northwestern went 2-0 against No. 20 Arizona State and 2-1 against Kansas.
Foster was dominant in her three appearances. She recorded two shutout victories, including a 5-0 win over Kansas in the season-opener and a 1-0 win over the Jawhawks in the final game of the triangular. Foster racked up 27 strikeouts in only 21 innings of work and did not allow a single earned run. A second-team All-Big Ten and NFCA selection, Foster tallied 292 K's as a freshman.
McCorkle could not have asked for a better starting debut. Used primarily in a reserve roll last season, McCorkle made the most of her debut as Northwestern's regular lead-off hitter. She ripped three home runs on the weekend, including the game-winning blast in the Wildcats' 1-0 win over Kansas. McCorkle came into the season with seven career hits and almost doubled that total in one weekend, recording six in the five games. She posted a slugging percentage of .938.
Foster, McCorkle and the rest of the Wildcats are back in action next weekend when they travel to Palm Spings, Calif. to play five games at the Palm Springs Tournament.