Northwestern
Purdue
Carri Leto Singles Home NU Win Over Purdue
4/25/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 25, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill. -- For the second time in as many weekends, Eileen Canney threw a two-hit shutout and Northwestern won the game with bottom of the seventh heroics. This time a Carri Leto bases-loaded single provided the only run of the game, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 win over Purdue in the first game of a Sunday doubleheader at Sharon J. Drysdale Field.
With the scored knotted at zero in the bottom of the seventh frame, Eryn Manahan beat out an infield single to shortstop. Jamie Dotson then grounded into a fielder's choice, but everyone was safe with the Boiler throw to second was too late to get Manahan. A walk to J.C. Kira loaded the bases, setting the stage for Leto, who drove a pitch up the middle to plate Manahan and end the game.
Against Penn State last Saturday, the Wildcats also entered the seventh tied at zero on the strength of a Canney two-hitter before Garland Cooper ended the game for Northwestern with a walk-off two-run home run.
Canney continued her season-long dominance in the circle, striking out a career-best 11 batters in throwing her eighth shutout of the year and improving her overall record to 15-2. Canney has now won eight decisions in a row dating back to March 24.
Neither team could get much going offensively in the contest. In the first inning, Purdue put runners on second and third with no outs before Canney was able to retire the next three batters in order. Both teams left a quintet of runners on base.
Sheila McCorkle went 2-for-3 in the game to record half of the Wildcat hits. Kristen Amegin drew her team-best 28th walk of the season in the contest, tying her for the single-season NU record. She already holds the school single-season home run mark, which she broke Friday with her eighth blast of the season against Indiana.
With the win Northwestern's record improves to 26-14 overall, 9-6 in the Big Ten. Purdue falls to 28-21 overall, 3-10 in the conference. Brooke Baker took the loss for the Boilermakers, dropping her record to 15-10.
