University of Louisville
ST. JOHN'S
Softball Splits with St. John's in BIG EAST Opener
March 31, 2006 | Softball
March 31, 2006
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - - The University of Louisville softball team opened BIG EAST Conference play with a 3-0 win over visiting St. John's and then lost the nightcap 4-1 Friday at Ulmer Stadium.
In game one of the doubleheader, the Cardinals got on the scoreboard in the second inning when Sarah Totten drew a leadoff walk and took second on Kassie Stanfill's sacrifice bunt. Totten moved to third on a wild pitch and crossed the plate on Brooke McCrain's sacrifice fly to make it a 1-0 game.
Louisville added two insurance runs in the seventh when Courtney Moore, Lacy Wood and Totten walked to load the bases for Stanfill. Brittney Counts who had entered the as a pinch-runner for Moore, was safe on a fielder's choice play at home and Wood crossed the plate on an error to make it a 3-0 game.
U of L starter Catherine Bishop (13-2) notched her seventh shutout of the season, holding the Red Storm to four hits and striking out seven. Totten recorded the Cardinals' only hit in the game.
St. John's starter Lisa Geer (7-5) took the loss, allowing three runs, two of them earned and holding the Cardinals to one hit. Offensively, the Red Storm had four hits and were led by Jo Sherlock who went 2 for 3.
In the nightcap, the teams played through three scoreless innings before the Red Storm took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth when Megan Oliver delivered a two-out single and Loren Anguiano followed with a two run shot over the left field fence.
St. John's pitcher Kimberly Lerch held the Cards hitless through four innings, allowing only one base runner to reach on an error before Totten broke through with a one-out double in the fifth. McCrain drew a two-out walk to put runners at first and second, but Lerch retired the next batter to end the inning.
U of L got on the scoreboard in the sixth when Rendon was safe on an infield single, moved to third in Moore's base hit and came home on Wood's single to make it a 4-1 game. The Cards had runners at first and second with one out, but could not push a run across.
Louisville had a final chance to score in the seventh when McCrain singled and took second on Rendon's two-out base hit to bring the tying run to the plate, but Lerch got her to fly out to end the game.
Kady Garrick (5-2) took the loss allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits and striking out three in five innings. Bishop allowed one unearned run and two hits and struck out three in 2.0 innings of relief. The Cardinals finished the game with six hits. Rendon went 2 for 4 with a run to lead the Cards offensively.
Lerch (7-4) picked up the win, allowing one earned run on six hits and striking out three in seven innings. Danielle Estrada led the Red Storm with a 2 for 4, one run performance at the plate. St. John's moves to 20-14 (3-3 BIG EAST).
U of L (21-5, 1-1) will continue league play against Seton Hall (16-18, 0-6) in a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. Sunday at Ulmer Stadium.
