University of Louisville
DEPAUL
Softball Sweeps DePaul 2-1 and 1-0
April 28, 2006 | Softball
April 28, 2006
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - - The No. 21/22 ranked University of Louisville softball team swept visiting DePaul 2-1 and 1-0 in a BIG EAST Conference doubleheader Friday at Ulmer Stadium. The Cardinals improve to 33-8 (11-3 BIG EAST) while DePaul falls to 27-17 (9-7).
"These were two down-to-the-wire games today," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. " Leslie Garland had a great day at the plate for us and both of our pitchers threw very well. Our defense also came through for us by stopping a few DePaul rallies. Overall, we're very happy to come away with two conference wins."
Game one featured a pitcher's duel with Louisville's Catherine Bishop tossing a two-hitter and DePaul's Tracie Adix holding the Cards to three hits. DePaul jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Marcy Wilus reached on an error and took second on Amber Patton's sacrifice bunt. Sandy Vojik delivered an RBI single to make it a 1-0 game. DePaul's Kate Sheaks drew a walk to lead off the second inning and moved to second on a passed ball. Louisville's Catherine Bishop did not allow another runner in scoring position and retired the next 17 batters before Sheaks singled with two outs in the top of the seventh.
U of L struck in the bottom of the sixth when Leslie Garland punched a leadoff triple. Courtney Moore reached on a fielder's choice, Garland was safe on a play at the plate and Moore took second on an error. Lacy Wood's groundout sent Moore to third. Michelle Vasquez sent a shot back to Adix, who knocked it down and second baseman Jessica Evans was able to recover for the putout, but Moore crossed the plate to give Louisville the 2-1 win.
Bishop (21-5) picked up the win, holding the Blue Demons to two hits and striking out seven in seven innings. Audrey Rendon led the Cards at the plate with a 2 for 3 performance.
Adix (9-6) took the loss, allowing two unearned runs on three hits and striking out one in six innings. Vojik and Sheaks were responsible for the Blue Demons hits.
In game two, the teams played through six scoreless innings before Louisville capitalized on Garland's single and a DePaul error in the bottom of the seventh to come away with the 1-0 win. Garland delivered a one-out single to left field. Moore lined out to the shortstop to bring Lacy Wood to the plate. Wood popped up to shallow right field, but a DePaul miscue allowed Garland to score on the play.
The Cardinals had a chance to push a run across in the bottom of the first when Moore walked, Wood reached on an error and Vasquez walk to load the bases with two outs. DePaul starter Stephanie Blagaich retired Kristi Cunningham to end the inning.
Louisville had another opportunity in the fifth when Candi Hicks and Rendon registered back-to-back hits. Moore's single loaded the bases with one out. DePaul reliever Leslie Scott got Wood to foul out and retired Vasquez to get out of the jam.
DePaul's best chance to score came in the top of the third when Sarah Polensky drew a pinch-hit walk to start the inning. Blaigaich re-entered the game to run and moved to second on Kara Amundson's sacrifice bunt. Patton's single placed runners at first and third with one out. Louisville shortstop Courtney Moore and catcher Lacy Wood combined to throw both runners out on a double steal attempt to end the inning.
Bishop (22-5) notched her second win of the day. She did not allow a hit while holding the Blue Demon's scoreless in 1.2 innings of work. U of L starter Kady Garrick combined for the shutout, scattering three hits and striking out four in 5.1 innings. The Cardinals collected six hits in the game with Garland's 2 for 4 effort leading the way. Rendon, Moore and Hicks each had a single and Alma Navarette registered a double.
Scott (1-3) took the loss, allowing one unearned run and five hits. Wilus, Vojik and Patton accounted for DePaul's three hits.
The Cards will close out the home season and celebrate senior day Sunday when they play host to BIG EAST leader Notre Dame in a doubleheader starting at noon. The first game will be produced by WHAS-TV and will air on a delayed basis on Insight Communications cable channel 2 on Monday, May 1 at 11 p.m. The announcers are WHAS sports anchor Erik Waxler and former Louisville catcher Lisa (McMillan) Pinkston.
