Cards host Women 4 Women Softball Invitational
March 22, 2007 | Softball
March 22, 2007
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville will host the Women4Women Softball Invitational which features a very strong field of national powers in No. 6/9 Michigan, No. 7/8 Northwestern, No. 25/28 California and a very solid Liberty team which stands at 14-9 on the season with some quality wins. Three of the teams in the field have competed for national championships recently, Northwestern was the 2006 Women's College World Series runner-up, Michigan won 2005 national championship and Cal finished runner-up in 2003 and 2004 after winning the title in 2002.
About Louisville
Louisville (13-12) is hitting .273 as a team. The Cards have five starters who are hitting over .300 on the season and are led offensively by senior third baseman Audrey Rendon who is batting .330 with 29 hits, three triples, and six stolen bases. Freshman Melissa Roth is next with a .313 average, and a team-leading .452 on-base percentage. Senior shortstop Courtney Moore follows closely, hitting .311 with 23 hits, five home runs and 17 RBI. Sophomore outfielder Brooke McCrain (.304) and sophomore outfielder Kristi Cunningham (.302) round out the .300 hitters.
This weekend, the Cards will look to sophomore Kassie Stanfill in the circle. Stanfill has posted a 6-3 record and carries a 1.96 ERA while holding opponents to a .205 batting average. Freshman Kristen Wadwell (1-3) will also shoulder the pitching load. In her nine appearances this season, Wadwell has a 1.66 ERA and has 23 strikeouts in 33.2 innings.
Last up for the Cards
Louisville (13-12) went 2-4 last week. Most recently, the Cardinals split a doubleheader against visiting Eastern Michigan on Saturday. The Eagles took the first game 4-2 with the Cards winning the second 3-2. On Friday, Louisville split a twinbill at Western Kentucky, winning the first 5-1 and falling 4-2 in the nightcap. U of L dropped a doubleheader at Marshall on Wednesday, falling 8-5 and 2-1 to the hard-hitting Herd in Huntingon, W.Va. All six games were without ace pitcher Catherine Bishop who is sidelined due to injury.
Cardinals vs. Liberty
March 23- 10:30 a.m.
Series Record: First meeting
Scouting the Flames
Liberty (14-9) is coming off of a 4-0 win over 10th ranked Baylor in the Bank of Hawaii Invitational where they also defeated No. 23 Hawaii 4-1. The Flames are hitting .289 as a team - led by Dawn Jeffs who is batting .439 with 36 hits, 19 runs and five homers. Jessica Moore follows with a .400 average, seven home runs, 19 runs scored and 20 RBI. Sarah Ellis (5-4) leads in the circle with a 2.40 ERA, 42 strikeouts in 78.2 innings.
Cardinals vs. Northwestern (21-5)
March 23- 3 p.m.
Series Record: U of L leads 2-1
Last meeting: Feb. 24, 2006 - Louisville defeated Northwestern 2-0 in the NFCA Leadoff Classic. Kristi Cunningham hit a solo home run and Catherine Bishop tossed a complete game shutout as the 24th ranked Cards defeated the 12th ranked Wildcats.
Scouting the Wildcats:
No. 7/8th ranked Northwestern (21-5) is currently on an 11-game winning streak, most recently coming off of doubleheader sweep of Saint Louis winning 11-1 and 5-3.
The Wildcats are hitting .298 as a team and are led at the plate by current Big Ten Player of the Week Tammy Williams, who is batting. .529 with 36 hits, 46 runs and 11 stolen bases. Katie Logan follows with a .369 batting average, 31 hits, 10 stolen bases. Garland Cooper (.338) packs some power with nine home runs and 29 RBI.
Ellen Canney (10-5) - the current Big Ten Pitcher of the Week - carries a 1.58 EAR with 127 strikeouts in 88.2 innings. Lauren Delaney (11-0) has a 1.10 ERA with 106 Ks - in cluding 16 in the 5-3 win over Saint Louis.
Cardinals vs. California (22-12)
March 24- 3 p.m.
Series Record: First meeting
Scouting the Bears:
California (22-12) is ranked 25th in the USA Today/NFCA poll and 28th in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll. The Bears are coming off of a 4-2 performance at the Hawaii Tournament. Cal picked up wins over Liberty (1-0), Nevada ( 3-1 and 7-4) and No. 12/17 Baylor (10-6). Their losses came agains Baylor (4-0 and No. 21/23 Hawaii).
The Bears are batting a solid .299 as a team. Gina Leomiti leads the offense with a .407 batting average. Christina follows closely at .406 with 24 hits, 24 runs and 26 RBI. Alex Sutton has demonstrated power with a team-leading seven home runs, nine doubles and 30 RBI.
Lauren Frankiewicz (9-5) holds a 2.81 ERA in 21 appearances with 107 strikeouts in 102 innings. Marissa Drewery (9-4) carries a 3.72 ERA in 67.2 innings.
Cardinals vs. Michigan (23-3)
March 25- 2:30 p.m.
Series Record: UM leads 6-0
Last meeting: March 25, 2006 - Michigan won 3-0 at Ulmer Stadium
Scouting the Wolverines
Michigan (23-3) just snapped a 19 game winning streak with a 3-1 loss to then fifth-ranked Arizona and then fell to Penn State 5-2 in a non-conference matchup. The Wolverines sport a healthy .309 team batting average and are led by Alessandra Giampaolo's .429 average, 36 hits, 12 doubles and 18 runs. Rebekah Milian is hitting .384 with 15 runs. Samantha Findlay(.317 batting average) has been drawing some free passes this season with a team-leading 25 walks. Michigan has a stingy 1.25 team ERA. Lorilyn Wilson (14-2) has 138 strikeouts in 98.2 innings of work while Nikkki Nemitz (9-1) carries a 1.45 ERA.
Up Next
The Cards will play host to Missouri in a two-game series March 27-28. After that, Louisville will open BIG EAST Conference play with a double header against Villanova Friday at 4 p.m. and Rutgers on Sunday, April 1 at 11 a.m.
Rendon Named to BIG EAST Honor Roll
Audrey Rendon was named to the BIG EAST honor roll on March 19 after leading the Cardinals offensively on the week. The senior third baseman batted .500 (10 for 20) on the week with two doubles, two triples, three runs and three RBI.
Bishop Sidelined with Injury
The Cardinals are without the services of ace pitcher Catherine Bishop (6-6)who has been out since March 14 with a stress fracture. The 2006 BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year has a 6-6 record, a 1.94 ERA and struck out 80 batters in 68.2 innings pitched.
Note Cards...
• Senior Audrey Rendon has consistently been one of the Cardinals' top hitters throughout her career. This season is no different, she is atop the stats with a .330 average and 29 hits.
• Rendon now has 230 career hits and moves within 10 of the school record (240) held by Keola Calderon (2000-03).
• Freshman catcher Melissa Roth is having an impressive debut season, standing second on the team with a .313 batting average.
Load `Em Up for McCrain
Sophomore Brooke McCrain is batting 1.000 with the bases loaded this season. In her four at-bats with the bases juiced, she has recorded four hits, including a double and six RBI.
Cards win Maryland Terrapin Invitational
U of L put together a 5-0 win streak to claim the Maryland Terrapin Invitational title. The Cards started the tournament with a 5-0 win over Princeton and then needed Brooke McCrain's two-run single in the bottom of the sixth to defeat the host Terrapins. The Cards didn't allow a run in the next two games, needing only five innings to dispatch Rhode Island 9-0 and Central Connecticut 12-0. The finals of the tournment pitted U of L and Princeton - this time the Cards won 6-1. Courtney Moore was named tournament MVP and Catherine Bishop, Kristi Cunningham and Brooke McCrain earned all-tournament honors.
Moore Named BIG EAST Hitter of the Week; Bishop Named to Honor Roll
Shortstop Courtney Moore was named BIG EAST Hitter of the Week for the period ending March 11. Senior Catherine Bishop was also named to the league's weekly honor roll.
Moore batted .471 (8 for17) with three homeruns, a double, nine RBIs and eight runs on the week as Louisville posted a 5-1 record, including a five-game winning streak to win the Maryland Terrapin Softball Invitational. Moore also posted a 1.059 slugging percentage and was named the tournament's MVP.
Bishop was named to the BIG EAST honor roll after posting a 3-1 record and a 1.33 ERA on the week while striking out 23 batters in 21 innings of work. She tossed two one-hitters - including a complete-game shutout against Rhode Island. Bishop picked up wins over Maryland, Rhode Island and Princeton en route to being named to the Maryland All-Tournament team.
Moore Moves to Top of RBI Record List
Courtney Moore moved to first place on Louisville's career RBI list and now has driven in 145 RBI in her career. She also holds the career records for home runs (34) and runs (136).
Bishop Claims Career Strikeout Record
Catherine Bishop posted eight strikeouts in the 6-1 win over Princeton, moving to first place on the school's career strikeout list with 565. She also got the win in that game and is now tied for career wins with 65.
Rendon and Bishop Named to BIG EAST Honor Roll
Seniors Audrey Rendon and Catherine Bishop were named to the BIG EAST honor roll announced on March 5. Rendon led the team offensively on the weekend, batting .571 (4 for 7) with a run, two RBI and a stolen base. She went 3 for 4 in the 7-4 win over Akron.
Bishop did not allow a run and struck out 15 in 9.1 innings pitched over the weekend. She held opponents to two hits (0.69 batting average). Matched her career high 12 strikeouts while getting the complete game win in the 1-0 decision against Bradley. Bishop posted her second save of the season in the 7-4 win over Akron, holding the Zips to one hit and striking out three in 2.1 innings.
Bishop Owns Career Shutouts Record
Catherine Bishop is now in sole possession of the school's career shutout record with 27. With her first shutout of the season against Bradley (3/2), she surpassed Jessica Rak's career mark of 26 which has stood since the 2003 season.
Rendon Selected in National Pro Fastpitch League College Draft
Senior third baseman Audrey Rendon was selected in National Pro Fastpitch League College Draft. The Pueblo Colorado native was chosen by the Rockford Thunder in the third round.
The six teams of the NPF held a four-round draft of the NCAA elite college softball athletes. Players selected in the NCAA draft will be permitted to pursue any available roster spot on their assigned team after completing their college season. Due to NCAA regulations, an active college senior-athlete is not eligible to sign with her respective franchise until her 2007 college season is finished.
Major League Baseball is the Official Development Partner of National Professional Fastpitch in the category of women's professional fastpitch softball. The partnership, which began the fall of 2002, is part of The Commissioner's Initiative on Women and Baseball, a league-wide effort to help MLB and the 30 Major League Clubs build stronger relationships with female audiences.
National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. The league, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, has operated since 1997 under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL).
Moore and Rendon Racing Home
Seniors Audrey Rendon and Courtney Moore are in a race to see who can finish as the top run-scorer in Cardinal softball history. Moore currently holds the record at 137 while Rendon stands at 132. The two are no strangers to the school's career list - Rendon owns the stolen base record with 65, while Moore holds the home run mark with 34.
Cardinals Fall Out of Top 25
For the first time in a year, U of L has dropped out of the top 25 rankings. Louisville, which started the season at No. 20 in the NFCA poll and No. 21 in the USA Softball poll. The Cards have gone 4-7 in the first three weeks of the season with wins over No. 21 Fresno State and Florida International. Three of the Cardinals' losses have come to teams ranked in the top 25, then-No. 16 Oklahoma and No. 21 Fresno State (twice).
Cards Preseason Pick to Win 2007 BIG EAST Championship
Louisville has been selected to finish first in the 2007 BIG EAST Softball Preseason poll, voted on by the league's head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own teams.
The Cards return six starters and 10 letterwinners from last year's team, including 2006 BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year and NFCA All-South region second team member senior Catherine Bishop. Also back for the Cards are three-time all-conference third baseman senior Audrey Rendon and two-time all-conference shortstop senior Courtney Moore. Four-year starter Candi Hicks rounds out a veteran senior class.
Bishop Named to ASA Softball Top 50 Watch List
Senior Catherine Bishop has been named to the Amateur Softball Association's "Top 50 Watch List" for the sixth annual USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Award. This award, which is considered one of the most prestigious honors in women's collegiate softball, is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate softball players across the country. The 2007 Pre-Season Watch List is comprised of 50 players representing 33 schools and 11 different NCAA Division I Conferences.
Bishop, a senior pitcher from Adelaide, Australia was the 2006 BIG EAST Softball Pitcher of the Year, an All-South second team member and was named to the all-BIG EAST first team. Last season she led the league and was fourth in the nation with a 0.78 earned run average and finished with a school-record 30 wins. Bishop held opponents to a .178 batting average and tied the school record for career shutouts with 25.
Bishop helped lead the Cardinals to a program-record 45 wins and the 2006 BIG EAST regular season championship. In 2006, U of L also achieved its first national ranking and appeared as high as No. 17 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and No. 18 in the USA Softball polls. In addition, Louisville received its third consecutive NCAA tournament bid and advanced to the regional finals.
Tough Road Ahead
As the Cardinals are coming off of the most successful season in school history, they will be facing their most challenging schedule yet. The 2007 slate features six opponents who finished in the top 25 including three top-ten teams and 13 NCAA regional teams.
The 2007 BIG EAST Conference Championship will be held May 10-13 at Notre Dame.
Moore a Member of the 200 Club
Courtney Moore went 2 for 3 with a home run in Louisville's 6-4 win over No. 21 Fresno State on Feb. 17. In doing that, she became only the fourth player in U of L history to have over 200 hits. Keola Calderon (2000-03) owns the career record with 240. Last season 2006 senior Lacy Wood became the second player to reach 200 hits and finished her career with 223. Moore's current teammate Audrey Rendon broke the 220 mark at the end of the 2006 season and stands in third place with 214 hits.
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