May 3, 2003

Final Stats

Evanston, Ill. - Northwestern pitcher Courtnay Foster, the National Player of the Week, struck out ten and scattered four hits as the Wildcats shut out Illinois, 6-0 in Big Ten softball Saturday in Evanston. The Illini fall to 37-12-1 overall, 11-6 in the Big Ten. Northwestern is 31-15 and 10-9. Northwestern needed a win to stay alive for the final spot in the Big Ten Tournament next weekend.

Northwestern had 11 hits in the game, including two home runs - a two-run shot by Cindy Muran in the third off of starter Amanda Fortune (24-8) and a solo home run by J.C. Kira off of Jackelyn Diekemper in the fourth.

The Wildcats scored in the first when Muran delivered a sacrifice fly, scoring Carri Leto. The homers from Muran and Kira made it 4-0. Northwestern added two more runs in the sixth. Leto doubled down the left field line, plating Jessie Wellnitz. The other run scored on a fielding error.

Illinois' best chance to score came in the sixth when Lindsey Hamma and Jenna Hall delivered a double and single in back-to-back at-bats with one out.

In other Big Ten action, Michigan State defeated Michigan, 2-0. The win moved Michigan State into third in the conference at 12-6. The Illini can regain third place, which would be the highest finish in school history, with a win on Sunday and a Michigan State loss.