University of Louisville
LIBERTY
Softball Edges Liberty 4-3 in Eight Innings
March 23, 2007 | Softball
March 23, 2007
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - - Senior Courtney Moore's two-run home run in the top of the eighth proved to be the game-winner as the University of Louisville softball team defeated Liberty 4-3 Friday in game one of the Women 4 Women Softball Tournament. Louisville improves to 14-12, while Liberty drops to 14-10.
The teams battled through three scoreless innings before the Cardinals broke through with a run in the fourth. Audrey Rendon led off the frame with a single, took second on Moore's base hit and crossed the plate on Brooke McCrain's RBI single.
Liberty responded in the bottom of the fifth when Beth Bennett reached on an error and scored on Dawn Jeffs' double.
The Lady Flames had an opportunity to score in third Jeffs singled and was thrown out at the plate when she tried to score on Jessica Moore's double. Cardinal left fielder Candi Hicks scooped up the ball, threw to shortstop Courtney Moore who rifled the ball home to catcher Melissa Roth for the third out of the inning.
With the game tied at 1-1 through seven innings, the teams went to the international tiebreaker where a runner is placed on second to start the inning. The Cards started the eighth with Candi Hicks at second. Rendon's sacrifice bunt sent Hicks to third. Melissa Roth's single plated Hicks to give the Cards a 2-1 lead. Moore powered a two-run shot over the center field fence for her sixth home run of the season to make it a 4-1 game.
Liberty came back with two runs in the bottom of the eighth when J'nae Jefferson was placed at second and Jessica Moore followed with a two-run shot of her own to make the score 4-3. The Lady Flames mounted another scoring threat when Ashley Williams walked and moved to third on Cardinal error which allowed Bennett to reach on a sacrifice bunt attempt. With runners on the corners and no outs, McCain hit into a fielder's choice to Louisville second baseman Rebecca Saksefski who combined with catcher Melissa Roth to get Williams out at the plate. Courtney Johnson was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs. Beth Hensley sent a ball to deep centerfield, but Kristi Cunningham made the catch to preserve the win.
Kassie Stanfill (7-3) picked up the win, allowing three runs, one earned on five hits and struck out a career-high nine batters. Kristen Wadwell picked up her first career save, striking out one in the eighth inning. The Cards had 10 hits in the game and were led at the plate by Cunningham's 3 for 3 performance. Rendon was 2 for 3 with a run. Moore and McCrain also had two hits in each.
Terra Lowe (5-3) was tagged for the loss, giving up four runs, three earned on 10 hits and striking out five in 7.1 innings. Sarah Ellis retired both batters she faced in the eighth. Liberty had five hits. Jeffs and Moore had two hits apiece.
U of L will play No. 7/8 Northwestern at 3 p.m.
