Feb. 17, 2007
HENDERSON, Nev. -- Senior Garland Cooper (Mission Viejo, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic) became Northwestern's all-time home run leader Friday night at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic, launching the 35th long ball of her career as part of a sixth-inning Wildcat comeback in a 3-2 win over Sacramento State.
With No. 6 Northwestern trailing, 2-1, in the top of the sixth, Tammy Williams (Roscoe, Mo./Osceola) swatted a pitch off the fence in left field that caromed back toward the infield while the speedy sophomore scampered all the way around to third.
She would have an easier trot into home after Cooper hit a soaring ball over the fence in right-center field to give the Wildcats a 3-2 advantage.
Cooper's blast -- her third of the year -- moved her into sole possession of sixth place on the Big Ten's all-time list. It was her second four-bagger of the day after she also went yard in an 11-0, five-inning win against Portland State Friday afternoon. That home run tied her with former school record holder Kristen Amegin (2003-06).
Freshman pitcher Lauren Delaney (Jefferson City, Mo./Helias) then came out in the top of the seventh and coaxed a grounder to second, a soft liner to third and a comebacker to end the game.
With the win, Northwestern improves to 4-3 on the season, 2-0 at the Desert Classic. Sacramento State falls to 3-4 on the year, 1-1 at the tournament.
The game began as a pitchers' duel, with Delaney matching Sacramento State hurler Brittani Clifford (0-1) goose egg for goose egg through the first three innings.
After Delaney struck out the side in the top of the fourth, Williams launched a solo home run deep into the night over the centerfield fence to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. The homer was Williams' first of the season and the 15th of her career, tying her with Brooke Siebel (1998-00) for seventh on Northwestern's career list.
In the bottom half of the inning, the Hornets stung back, loading the bases with two outs on a single, an error and a walk. Catcher Jamie Schloredt then lined a ball into left field that clipped the line, scoring a pair with the double to give Sacramento State a 2-1 lead.
Williams finished 2-for-3 with a home run, a triple and two runs scored, while Cooper also was 2-for-3 for NU.
Delaney improved to 3-0 with the win, allowing two unearned runs on three hits with four walks and nine strikeouts.
Northwestern returns to action at 2 p.m. CT Saturday, Feb. 17, against tournament host UNLV at Eller Media Stadium on the UNLV campus. The Wildcats then immediately take on No. 11 California, also at Eller Media. Gametracker will be available for both contests.