University of Louisville
NOTRE DAME
Softball Sweeps Notre Dame 2-1 and 10-3
May 01, 2006 | Softball
May 1, 2006
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - - Senior catcher Lacy Wood made her final regular season game at Ulmer Stadium one to remember with a walk-off home run in the bottom of the eighth as No. 21/22 ranked University of Louisville softball team defeated BIG EAST leading Notre Dame 2-1. U of L completed the doubleheader sweep with a 10-3 win in the nightcap. The Cardinals (35-8, 13-3) move into second place in league standings behind South Florida, while Notre Dame (34-17, 14-4) slips to third.
"I'm happy to get two conference wins today over a very tough Notre Dame team," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "Our senior class stepped up and got the job done. I'm very proud of all of our seniors and all that they've accomplished. I thought Kady Garrick pitched well for us and Lacy Wood came up with some very timely hitting to get the job done."
In the first game, Notre Dame jumped to a 1-0 lead when Stephanie Brown led off the game with a walk and took second on Sara Schoonaert's sacrifice hit. Katie Laing's flyout to deep centerfield sent Brown to third and she crossed the plate on Meagan Ruthrauff's infield single.
Louisville tied the game in the bottom of the seventh when Sarah Totten drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on Alma Navarrete's sacrifice bunt and took third when Jenn Skaggs reached on an error. Totten was safe at the plate when Audrey Rendon reached on a fielder's choice to tie the game at 1-1 and send the Cardinals into extra innings for the first time this season.
Bishop retired the Irish in order in the top of the eighth. Wood blasted her fifth home run of the season, taking the first pitch of the eighth inning over the left field fence.
The Cardinals had an opportunity to push runs across in the bottom of the sixth when Audrey Rendon delivered a leadoff hit and Leslie Garland walked. Both runners moved on Courtney Moore's groundout and Lacy Wood was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out. Notre Dame's Heather Booth retired the next two batters to get out of the jam.
Kady Garrick (9-2) picked up the win, holding Notre Dame scoreless and scattering three hits while striking out three in seven innings of relief. The Cardinals had five hits in the game with Wood's 2 for 3 performance leading the way.
Notre Dame's Booth (19-10) took the loss, allowing two earned runs on five hits and striking out seven on in seven innings of work.
In the second game, senior second baseman Michelle Vasquez went 4 for 4 with two doubles and three RBI to lead the Cards as they pounded out 10 runs and 13 hits.
U of L jumped to a 5-0 lead in the first when Leslie Garland and Courtney Moore delivered back-to-back singles and Wood drew a walk to load the bases. Vasquez delivered an RBI single and Kristi Cunningham followed with a two-run hit give the Cards a 3-0 lead. Alma Navarrete registered a two-run single and came home on a double by Candi Hicks who capped the first inning scoring at 7-0 when she scored from second on Audrey Rendon's infield single.
Notre Dame responded in the top of the second when Erin Glasco led off the frame with a walk. Smith, pinch running for Glasco, took second when Stephanie Mola reached on an error. Brittany Glynn came in to pinch run for Mola. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and Linda Kohan's RBI single put the Irish on the scoreboard. Laing's base hit scored Glynn to make it a 7-2 game. Meagan Ruthrauff walked to load the bases, but Louisville starter Catherine Bishop got Sara Schoonaert to fly out to end the inning.
The Cards put up another run in the second when Wood drew a leadoff walk and scored on a double by Vasquez to make the score 8-2.
Notre Dame's Brown sent a solo shot over the left field fence in the top of the fourth, to make it an 8-3 game.
Louisville regained the six-run cushion in the fourth when Wood singled and scored on Vasquez's second double of the game.
The Irish had another opportunity to score in the top of the sixth when Beth Northway led off with a pinch hit single, Mora reached on an error and Brown walked to load the bases with no outs. Bishop struck Kohan out and got Laird to ground into a double play to end the threat.
The Cards tacked on another run in the sixth when Rendon singled, stole second and scored on Garland's hit to make it a 10-3 game.
Bishop (23-5) got the win allowing three run, only one earned, on six hits and striking out five in six innings. In addition to Vasquez's 4 for 4 showing at the plate, Rendon and Garland each went 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI. Wood went 1 for 2 and scored three runs.
Brittney Barger (15-7) took the loss, allowing six earned runs on eight hits and striking out six in 5.1 innings. Brown led Notre Dame offensively, going 2 for 3 with a home run.
The Cardinals will travel to Providence for a rescheduled doubleheader with the Friars Thursday, May 4. They will close out the regular season with BIG EAST doubleheaders at Rutgers Saturday and Villanova Sunday.
