University of Louisville
SETON HALL
Softball Sweeps Seton Hall 3-1 and 6-0
April 02, 2006 | Softball
April 2, 2006
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The No. 20 ranked University of Louisville softball team swept visiting Seton Hall 3-1 and 6-0 in a rain-soaked BIG EAST doubleheader Sunday at Ulmer Stadium. The Cardinals improve to 23-5 (3-1 BIG EAST). Seton Hall falls to 16-20 (0-8).
"It was great to get two wins in a tough BIG EAST conference," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "I thought we were able to swing the bats and play better in all areas today. I'm especially pleased with our pitching, they've turned in some really solid performances for us this past week."
In game one, Seton Hall got on the scoreboard in the third inning when Leah Menichetti hit the ball up the middle. Louisville pitcher Catherine Bishop made a stab at the ball, but the Cards could not make the play to get her out at first. Kealan Waldron reached on an error and Akoua Lonergan delivered an RBI single to make it a 1-0 game.
Louisville responded in the home half of the inning when Audrey Rendon beat the throw for an infield single, stole second and scored on a double by Candi Hicks.
The teams sat through a 13 minute rain delay in the top of the fourth inning.
Michelle Vasquez's solo shot over the left field fence in the bottom of the fourth gave the Cards a 2-1 lead.
The Cardinals added another run in the fifth when Kristi Cunningham led off with a single, took second on a wild pitch and moved to third on Audrey Rendon's sacrifice hit. Courtney Moore's RBI single sent Cunningham home, it a 3-1 game.
Louisville's Catherine Bishop (14-2) posted a career-high 12 strikeouts, allowed one unearned run and scattered three hits in seven innings. The Cards had eight hits and were led by Vasquez's 2 for 3, one run, one RBI performance.
Kim Schweitzer (7-7) took the loss, allowing three earned runs and six hits in four innings. Ashley Arnett held the Cards scoreless and gave up two hits in the final two innings of the game.
In the second game, Cardinal redshirt freshman Brooke McCrain went 3 for 3 with two doubles and four RBI as the Cards completed their first BIG EAST sweep in a 6-0 win over the Pirates.
The Pirates opened the game with a chance to score in the first inning. Lonergan led off the game with a walk and stole second. Katie Pierce singled. Cardinal left fielder Candi Hicks and third baseman Audrey Rendon combined to tag Lonergan out after she slipped while rounding third. Simkiss delivered a two-out single and Jessica Schulien walked to load the bases with two outs. Bishop got Jenna Best to ground out to second to end the inning.
The teams waited through another rain delay, this time 17 minutes in the bottom of the first.
The Cardinals got on the scoreboard with two runs on the third. Vasquez singled and Sarah Totten reached on a fielder's choice. Brooke McCrain's double plated Vasquez and Garland to make it a 2-0 game.
Louisville added two more runs in the fourth when Wood and Vasquez delivered back-to-back singles to start the inning and both scored on McCrain's second two-run double of the game to increase the lead to 4-0.
The Cards tacked on their final two runs on the fifth when Candi Hicks was hit by a pitch and stole second. Moore stepped up to the plate and delivered a single which sent Hicks home. An error on the play moved Moore to third and scored on another Pirate error.
Bishop (15-2) picked up her second win of the day, holding the Pirates scoreless and allowing five hits while striking out five in six innings. Kady Garrick combined for the shutout, giving up one hit and striking out two in the seventh inning. The Cards had nine hits in the game. McCrain's 3 for 3 and four RBI led the way for the Cards, Vasquez went 2 for 3 with two runs.
Seton Hall starter Jessica Jones (3-9) took the loss, allowing three earned runs, four hits and striking out three in 3.0 innings. Maura Lund also allowed three runs, only one earned, four hits and struck out two in 2.0 innings. Ashley Arnette gave up one hit and struck out two in one inning of work.
U of L will play host to Eastern Kentucky Wednesday, April 5 at 5 p.m. in a single game at Ulmer Stadium.
