Feb. 11, 2006
Box Score
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Taking on its third-consecutive ranked opponent to begin 2006, No. 16 Northwestern used its 2005 formula of power and pitching to down No. 20 Fresno State, 5-0, Saturday afternoon at the Kajikawa Classic.
Senior Courtnay Foster (Tucson, Ariz./Sahuaro) threw a one-hit shutout, allowing only a fourth-inning single while striking out five, walking one and hitting a batter. The one-hitter is the ninth of Foster's career.
Senior Kristen Amegin (West Sacramento, Calif./Elk Grove) provided most of the NU firepower with a three-run homer in the fifth.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 2-1 on the year, while Foster moves to 1-1 on the season. With the loss, the Bulldogs fall to 1-3.
In her first-career start behind the plate, Amegin gunned down her first would-be base stealer. With two outs, Fresno State's Nichole Willis drew a walk, then took off for second on the next pitch. Amegin's throw was caught by shortstop Tammy Williams (El Dorado Springs, Mo./Osceola), who pin-wheeled over the runner but applied the tag to end the first.
In the third inning, the Wildcats mounted the first serious threat of the game. Williams led off with a sharp single up the middle, and junior Katie Logan (Tempe, Ariz./Corona del Sol) reached on a fielder's choice to put runners on second and third with one out.
Junior Garland Cooper (Mission Viejo, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic) then drew a walk to load the bases, but a pair of fielder's choice groundouts ended the inning with no score.
Senior Sheila McCorkle (Costa Mesa, Calif./Mater Dei) led off the fourth with a rope into left-center, but the Bulldogs' Shannon Garvin made a diving grab in the gap to rob McCorkle of extra bases.
Northwestern again put together a big threat in the fifth. Sophomore Darcy Sengewald (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way East) led off with a single to right, then advanced to second two batters later when Logan singled through the left side.
Cooper followed with a blast to center, right at Garvin, who again made a spectacular catch with a leaping stab of the ball as it zoomed over her head. Stepping next to the plate, Amegin solved the problem of Fresno State's great outfield play by simply placing the next pitch over the right-field fence for a three-run home run and a 3-0 Northwestern lead.
The blast was the first of the season and the 26th career homer for Amegin, who is Northwestern's all-time leader. Her three RBIs gave her 95 for her career, jumping teammate Cooper for third-place on the Wildcats' all-time list.
In the sixth, Northwestern added an insurance run. McCorkle singled and freshman Erin Dyer (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport) drew a walk to lead off the inning, but McCorkle was erased on a steal attempt and Dyer by a fielder's choice ball from senior Ashley Crane (Sammamish, Wash./Eastlake).
With Crane on first, Sengewald, Williams and Logan hit successive singles to plate Crane and give the Wildcats a 4-0 advantage.
In the seventh, senior Jamie Dotson (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill) drew a one-out walk, then was lifted for pinch-runner Elizabeth Piatt (Monticello, Ill./Monticello). McCorkle advanced Piatt to second on a groundout, where she scored from on junior Jessica Miller's (Elberfeld, Ind./Techumseh) single to center for a 5-0 Northwestern lead.
Logan finished the game 3-for-4 with a trio of singles, while Williams and Sengewald both had a pair of hits.
Laura Ferreira (0-1) pitched 5.2 innings for Fresno State to take the loss.