University of Louisville
PITTSBURGH
Softball Sweeps Pittsburgh 5-0 and 8-0
April 23, 2006 | Softball
April 23, 2006
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - - The No. 21 ranked University of Louisville softball team swept visiting Pittsburgh 5-0 and 8-0 in a BIG EAST doubleheader Sunday at Ulmer Stadium. The Cardinals recorded their second consecutive shutout sweep of a league opponent and improve to 30-8 (9-3 BIG EAST). Pitt falls to 27-24 (8-10).
"We were very happy to complete the weekend with two more conference wins," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "Our pitchers both threw very well for us again today. We played well all around today with our defense making good plays and our offense getting the job done."
In game one, U of L took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when Leslie Garland singled and scored on Courtney Moore's triple.
The Cards held on to the one-run lead until the sixth inning when they put up a four-spot. Michelle Vasquez led off with a single and scored on Kristi Cunningham's double. Brooke McCrain singled and came home on Sarah Totten's double to make it a 3-0 game. Brittney Counts' base hit plated Totten. After stealing second, counts took third on Audrey Rendon's groundout and scored on a pinch-hit single by Jenn Skaggs to give Louisville a 5-0 cushion.
Catherine Bishop (19-5) notched her ninth shutout of the season, scattering three hits, striking out eight and issuing only one walk in seven innings. The Cardinals pounded out 12 hits as every player in the batting order had at least one hit. Rendon was 2 for 4 with two stolen bases. McCrain was 2 for 3 with a run.
Pittsburgh's Laura Belardinelli (13-9) took the loss, allowing four earned runs on 10 hits. Kaitlyn Schuster surrendered an earned run and gave up two hits in 0.2 innings. Francesca DiMaria, Joey Scarf each single and Sheena Hellon doubled for the Panthers.
In game two, Louisville started the scoring in the second inning. Kristi Cunningham delivered a two-out double and came home on McCrain's base hit to get the Cards on the scoreboard. McCrain crossed the plate on Totten's single to make it a 2-0 game.
The Cardinals added another run in the fourth when Moore and Wood posted back-to-back singles to start the inning. Moore took third when Vasquez reached on a fielder's choice and came home on Cunningham's base hit to increase the lead to 3-0.
Louisville tacked on a run in the fifth when Totten registered a leadoff single, took second on a wild pitch, moved to third on Rendon's groundout and crossed the plate on another wild pitch to make the score 4-0.
U of L kept its offense going with a four-run sixth inning. Moore delivered a leadoff double and Wood followed with a single. Vasquez's sharp hit back to the pitcher loaded the bases for McCrain's two-run single. Skaggs stepped up to the plate and registered her second pinch hit single of the day, knocking in Vasquez to give the Cards a 7-0 lead. McCrain and Skaggs moved into scoring position when Counts grounded out and Rendon's base hit scored McCrain to give Louisville the 8-0 mercy rule win.
Kady Garrick (8-2) picked up her fifth shutout of the season, giving up on two hits and striking out seven batters in six innings. The Cards hammered out 13 hits with five players recording two hits each. McCrain finished 2 for 3 with two runs and three RBI. Totten was 2 for 2 with a double, a run and an RBI. Cunningham went 2 for 3 with a double, a run and an RBI. Moore was 2 for 3 with two runs and Wood was 2 for 3 with a run.
Christa Hunter (5-2) took the loss, allowing seven earned runs on 10 hits and striking out one in 5.0 innings. Schuster was tagged for one earned run and three hits and struck out one in 0.2 innings. Hellon was 1 for 2 with a double and Jessica Dignon had the Panthers' other hit.
U of L (30-8, 9-3) will travel to Lexington, Ky., to face intra-state rival Kentucky Wednesday, April 26 at 5 p.m.
