University of Louisville
AKRON
Softball Beats Akron 7-4
March 02, 2007 | Softball
March 2, 2007
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville softball team picked up its second win of the day, defeated Akron 7-4 Friday in the Louisville Red & Black Cardinal Tournament. The Cards improve to 6-7 while Akron falls to 2-4 on the season.
The Zips jumped to an early lead in the first when Carrese Moody and Kelsie Hanson drew back-to-back walks to start the game. Both runners moved on Cali Stratton's sacrifice bunt. Julie Boyes' single sent Moody home to make it a 1-0 game. Boyes stole second and Jaci Brindus entered the game as a pinch runner. Hanson scored on a wild pitch and a Louisville error sent Brindus home to make it a 3-0 game.
The Cards answered with a three-spot of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Senior second baseman Candi Hicks led off with a single, senior shortstop Courtney Moore drew a walk and freshman catcher Melissa Roth was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Freshman designated player Brittany York stepped up to the plate and delivered a two run single. Roth crossed the plate on a wild pitch to tie the game at 3-3.
U of L went ahead in the in the bottom of the second when Hicks delivered a two-out single and stole second. Rendon singled to place runners on first and third for Courtney Moore whose RBI single scored Hicks. Rendon crossed the plate on Roth's base hit to give the Cards a 5-3 lead.
Akron pulled within a run in the fifth. Stratton singled and scored on a double by Jaclyn Spiritos to make it a 5-4 game.
Louisville tacked on two insurance runs in the home half of the frame when sophomore Skye Miller registered a one-out single and moved to second on sophomore Kristi Cunningham's base hit. Hicks reached on an error to load the bases for Rendon's two-run single for the final 7-4 tally.
Sophomore Kassie Stanfill (3-2) got the win, allowing one earned run and striking out three in 4.1 innings of relief. Senior Catherine Bishop picked up her second save of the season, giving up only one hit and striking out three in 2.1 innings. The Cards had 11 hits, paced by Rendon's 3 for 4 showing at the plate. She also had two RBIs and scored a run. York went 2 for 4 with two RBI.
Lindsay Bodeker (0-2) took the loss, allowing four runs, two earned, and striking out two in 5.2. The Zips had six hits in the game, led by Stratton who went 2 for 2 with a run.
"I was more pleased with our intensity and aggressive play in the second game," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "Our defensive effort and our run production were also much better."
U of L (6-7) will face Western Kentucky (4-13) Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at Ulmer Stadium. In the Friday's other games, Louisville beat Bradley 1-0. Bradley defeated Western Kentucky 3-2 and Akron edged Western Kentucky 5-3 in eight innings.
