April 4, 2004
URBANA, Ill. -- Northwestern starter Courtnay Foster struck out 10 Illinois batters, including the first five she faced, but could not get any run support from her teammates in a 2-0 loss during the front-end of a doubleheader against the Fighting Illini Sunday in Urbana, Ill.
The Wildcats have hit the skids recently, dropping seven of their last eight, and scoring two or less runs in seven of their last nine outings.
Foster (7-9) was absolutely dominant for most of the game, but gave up a triple that center-fielder Sheila McCorkle nearly corraled with a full-extension dive and a double in the fourth inning, allowing Illinois to push across a pair of runs. The only other base hit Foster allowed was a bunt single in the second frame.
Northwestern came its closest to scoring in the first inning when Carri Leto singled and Garland Cooper drew a walk to put two runners on with only one out. No Wildcat runner would reach second base the rest of the game in an equally impressive outing by Illinois starter Amanda Fortune (15-6).
Northwestern's record drops to 15-11, 0-3 in the Big Ten while Illinois improves to 23-12-1, 2-1 in the conference.