University of Louisville
IOWA
Iowa Edges Softball 3-2 in Eight Innings
February 25, 2007 | Softball
Feb. 25, 2007
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - - The University of Louisville softball team fell to visiting Iowa 3-2 in eight innings Sunday on the final day of the Red & Black Tournament at Ulmer Stadium. The Cards fall to 4-7, while the Hawkeyes improve to 8-5 on the season.
The Hawkeyes got on the scoreboard in the top of the first when Emily Nichols was hit by a pitch and took second when Colleen McGlaughlin reached on a two-out error. Callie Adreon entered the game as a pinch-runner for Nichols and moved to third when Sami Baugh walked to load the bases. Quinn Morelock reached on a fielder's choice which saw Adreon safe at home to make it a 1-0 game.
The Cards answered in the third. Candi Hicks led off with a single and Courtney Moore drew a walk. Melissa Roth reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases. Brittany York's fielder's choice culminated in Hicks being thrown out at the plate, leaving the bases loaded for Brooke McCrain's RBI single, tying the game at 1-1.
Kristi Cunningham's solo shot over the centerfield fence in the fourth gave the Cardinals a 2-1 lead.
Iowa responded in the top of the fifth. Louisville's Catherine Bishop had retired eight consecutive batters when McGlaughlin delivered a two-out single. Rachel West entered the game as a pinch runner, stole second and scored on Baugh's hit which glanced off the glove of the second baseman to knot the game at 2-2.
With the game still tied at the end of the seventh, the teams moved into the eighth where the international tiebreaker rule was utilized. McGloughlin was placed at second to start the inning and scored on Baugh's double to pull the Hawkeyes ahead 3-2.
The Cardinals had an opportunity to score in the home half of the inning when Roth was placed at second and McCrain and Kassie Stanfill drew back-to-back walks to load the bases with one out. Roth was out at home on Sarah Totten's fielder's choice and Iowa starter Amanda Zust struck out the final batter to end the threat and get the win.
Bishop (2-5) took the loss, giving up three runs, one earned on six hits and striking out 11 in eight innings. The Cards had six hits in the game. McCrain when 2 for 3 with an RBI and Cunningham finished 1 for 2 with a home run.
Zust (5-3) got the win, allowing two earned runs on six hits and striking out eight in eight innings. Nichols and Baugh each went 2 for 3 to lead the Hawkeyes at the plate.
In the second game of the day, Kansas defeated Kent State 4-0. The final game of the tournament, Louisville vs. Kent State, was cancelled due to inclement weather and travel conditions.
Louisville will continue its home stand when it hosts the Red & Black Cardinal Tournament March 2-4. The Cards will face Akron on March 2 at 4 p.m. Western Kentucky and Bradley will face off at 2 p.m. Friday at Ulmer Stadium.
