University of Louisville
Northern Iowa
Softball Blanks Northern Iowa
February 09, 2001 | Softball
Feb. 9, 2001
The University of Louisville softball team defeated Northern Iowa 4-0 Friday at the Metrodome Softball Classic hosted by the University of Minnesota.
The Cards broke open a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth inning. Val Smith drew a walk to reach first, advanced to second on Coleen Coughlin's basehit and moved to third on a Northern Iowa error. Smith scored Louisville's game-winning run on another Panther error which also allowed Candi Padilla to reach first. Coughlin and Padilla both scored on a double by Keola Calderon to give the Cards a 3-0 lead.
Christina Soto hit her first career homerun in the sixth inning to give U of L another insurance run and a 4-0 lead.
The Cardinals' starter Tara McClure escaped a one-out bases-loaded jam in the top of the seventh inning by striking out the final two Northern Iowa batters to clinch her first shutout of the season. McClure (2-0) finished the game allowing only two hits, striking out nine and walking six.
"Good defense kept us in the game until our offense came around," said Louisville head coach Sandy Pearsall. "Keola's two-run double came at the right time and gave us a good cushion to work with."
Louisville improves to 3-0. The Cardinals will take on tournament host Minnesota on Friday night at 8 p.m.
R H ELOUISVILLE - 4 3 0NORTHERN IOWA - 0 2 2
