Cards Split Opening Two Games of Inaugural Softball Season
July 21, 2000 | Softball
February 10, 2000
MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Louisville softball team opened up their inaugural season with a split in the Metrodome Softball Classic in Minneapolis.
In the first game of the day, the Cards lost to Alabama 10-2. The Crimson Tide opened up the scoring in the first inning when Kelly Kretschman reached on a walk and scored on an error.
With Alabama up 1-0 going into the third, the Tide's Ginger Jones singled to left field, advanced to second on a single and third on a wild pitch and scored on a Louisville error to give the Tide a 2-0 lead.
Alabama put up four more runs in the fifth inning to make the score 6-0. In the bottom of the fifth, Louisville's Val Smith doubled and advanced to third on an Alabama error. She then scored on a single by Keola Calderon. Calderon scored the other run on a fielder's choice by Amy Pickering. Alabama scored three more runs in the top of the seventh inning.
Louisville starter Tara McClure pitched six innings, gave up 11 hits and four earned runs, while striking out six.
In the game against Western Illinois. Louisville starter Jessica Rak pitched a complete game shutout, giving up only two hits and striking out nine. The game was scoreless at the end of seven innings and through the bottom of the ninth before Louisville's Calderon singled, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lisa McMillan, advanced to third when Smith grounded out and scored on Christina Soto's sharp hit to third base.
"Overall it was a good day," said U of L coach Sandy Pearsall. "We were very nervous coming out. We had some great defensive plays and the fact that we did hit in the Alabama game shows that we are capable of playing with a team of their caliber. We looked more relaxed in the Western Illinois game, we just need to get the job done when our runners are in scoring position."
The Cards will take on Missouri at 9 a.m. on Friday.
