University of Louisville
Rutgers
Softball Sweeps Rutgers 7-3 and 3-0
May 06, 2006 | Softball
May 6, 2006
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - - The No. 19-ranked University of Louisville softball team swept host Rutgers 7-3 and 3-0 Saturday in a BIG EAST doubleheader. The Cardinals improve to 39-8 (17-3 BIG EAST) while Rutgers falls to 14-36 (4-16).
"I'm pleased with the way our offense is being aggressive and hitting the ball," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "We have also been playing solid defense and we need to continue to build upon these games as we head into the conference tournament."
In game one, the Cardinals scored three runs in the top of the second when Michelle Vasquez drew a walk and moved to second on Sarah Totten's two-out single. Kassie Stanfill delivered a two-run double and scored when Kristi Cunningham reached on an error to make it a 3-0 game.
Candi Hicks led off the second inning with a base hit. Lacy Wood's sent a shot over the center field fence to give the Cards a 5-0 lead.
Rutgers utilized two hits and four walks to score three runs in the bottom of the third. Amanda Heller led off with a double, Brittany Loisel walked and Kristin Madoch singled to load the bases with one out. Kate Valainte's walk plated Heller to put the Scarlet Knights on the scoreboard. Loisel was out at home when Sarah Kalka reached on a fielder's choice. Kim Hodges' two-out bases-loaded walk scored Madoch to make it a 5-2 game. Mallory Miller drew a walk to score Valainte, pulling the Scarlet Knights within two runs at 5-3. Louisville reliever Kady Garrick struck out Shantai Dixon to end the inning.
The Cards tacked on two more insurance runs in the top of the seventh when Cunningham led off the frame with a single, moved advance when Garland and Jenn Skaggs grounded out and crossed the plate when Courtney Moore reached on a two-out error. Moore came home on another Rutgers error committed when pinch-runner Brittney Counts stole second to make the score 7-3.
Garrick (10-2) got the win, allowing one hit and striking out four in 4.1 innings of relief. Wood went 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBI, while Cunningham finished the game batting 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI.
Christina Gillman (5-10) took the loss, giving up five runs, four of them earned on four hits in 3. 0 innings. The Scarlet Knights had four hits in the game.
In game two, Catherine Bishop tossed a one-hitter and Louisville had nine hits as the Cards defeated Rutgers 3-0.
The Cards jumped to a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Stanfill sent a two-out solo home run over the left field fence.
U of L had a chance to push more runs across in the third when Moore registered a two-out single, Wood followed with a hit and Vasquez walked to load the bases. Rutgers starter Christine Yard got Alma Navarrete to fly out to deep centerfield to end the threat.
The Cardinals added two more runs in the top of the seventh when Cunningham doubled, moved to third on Leslie Garland's single and scored on Moore's infield hit. Garland crossed the plate on a base hit by Wood to make the score 3-0.
Louisville's Bishop picked up the win to improve to 26-5 on the season. She gave up one hit to Brittany Loisel to start the game and Amanda Shaw reached on an error to place two runners on. After that, Bishop retired the next 21 batters she faced, striking out six in her tenth complete game shutout of the season. Moore led the Cardinal offense at the plate, going 3 for 4 with an RBI. Wood was 2 for 4 with an RBI.
Yard (5-12) took the loss, allowing three earned runs on nine hits and striking out six in 7.0 innings.
U of L will conclude the regular season with a BIG EAST doubleheader at Villanova Sunday at noon.
