Cold weather and wind would have some pitchers shaking on the mound, but not Courtnay Foster.

Despite all of these inconveniences, Foster came through with a clutch performance in Northwestern’s 3-1 victory over the NIU softball team Tuesday at Mary M. Bell Field in DeKalb.

She pitched a solid seven innings, giving up four hits and one earned run.

From beginning to the end, Foster showed why she was the ace of the Wildcats’ staff.

Foster’s one-two-three first inning set the tone for her day.

Foster took control of the game early making the Huskie batters swing at poorly thrown balls after getting ahead of the hitters in most counts.

NIU softball coach Donna Martin said she was not surprised by Foster’s performance.

“She usually will throw a strike in the first couple of pitches; our youth played a factor in this one,” Martin said.

Foster pitched her way out of jams that could have led to major runs for NIU.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Huskies looked as if they were about to score with two outs and the bases loaded, but Foster kept her poise and retired the side.

“It was a bit of a mix up on one of the calls,” Foster said. “We thought it was a strikeout on my change up. I was just glad to get out of the jam.”