University of Louisville
AKRON<br>(Red & Black Classic)
Softball Sweeps Final Two Games of Red & Black Classic
March 05, 2006 | Softball
March 5, 2006
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Sophomore Kady Garrick tossed her first career no-hitter and freshman Kristi Cunningham hit two home runs as the No. 21 ranked University of Louisville softball team swept Akron and Western Kentucky Sunday in the Red & Black Classic. The Cardinals improve to 12-2 on the season.
"Today's performance was better from our pitching staff and offense," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "We need to focus on our defense and put a whole game together. When we do that, we will be a very good team."
Louisville 5 - Akron 0
The Cards opened the day with a 5-0 win over Akron. The game featured a pitcher's duel through the first four innings before the Cardinals broke through with a five run fifth. Lacy Wood led off with a double and scored on Michelle Vasquez's RBI single. Jenn Skaggs followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Leslie Garland's base hit scored Vasquez and set up Kristi Cunningham's three-run shot over the left field fence to make it a 5-0 game.
Garrick (3-0) tossed her second shutout of the season. A walk and a hit batter marred the perfect game. The Cards had seven hits. Cunningham finished the game 1 for 2 with three RBI.
Akron's Megan MacKenzie (3-4) took the loss, allowing five runs, four earned and striking out eight in six innings. The Zips fall to 5-5 on the season.
Louisville 3 - Western Kentucky 1
The Cards avenged Saturday's loss to the Hilltoppers with a 3-1 win in the championship game. U of L opened a 2-0 lead in the top of the third when Cunningham led off with a single, took second on Audrey Rendon's sacrifice bunt and scored on Courtney Moore's base hit. Wood stepped up to the plate and delivered a single to left field and Moore was safe on a play at the plate.
Cunningham's solo shot over the center field fence in the fourth made it a 3-0 game.
The Hilltoppers got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning when Alana Towns reached on a two-base error and came home on another Cardinal error to make the score 3-1.
Louisville starter Catherine Bishop (5-1) got the win, allowing one unearned run, holding the Hilltoppers to two hits while striking out five in seven innings. The Cards had nine hits in the game and were led by Cunningham's 2 for 3, two-run performance. Rendon, Moore and Vasquez were also 2 for 3.
Ryan Rogge (0-5) took the loss for the Hilltoppers, allowing three earned runs and striking out four in 7. 0 innings. Becky Bishop and Renikka Toliver accounted for Western Kentucky's two hits. WKU falls to 12-9 on the season.
Louisville will travel to Bloomington, Ind., to face the Hoosiers, Tuesday, March 7 at 3 p.m.
