University of Louisville
VILLANOVA
Softball Sweeps Villanova 6-1 and 5-0
March 30, 2007 | Softball
March 30, 2007
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - - The University of Louisville softball team opened BIG EAST Conference play by sweeping Villanova 6-1 and 5-0 Friday at Ulmer Stadium.
In game one, Brittany York's pinch-hit grand slam in the fifth broke a scoreless tie giving the Cards a 4-0 lead. Melissa Roth reached on a fielder's choice, Kristi Cunningham singled and Kristen Wadwell walked to load the bases with one out. York stepped up to the plate in a pinch-hit appearance and delivered her second home run of the season and her first career grand slam.
Wadwell, Louisville's starting pitcher had retired 13 consecutive batters before Villanova's Meghan Morese registered a two-out home run in the top of the sixth to put the Wildcats on the scoreboard.
The Cardinals tacked on two more runs in the sixth when Brittney Counts walked and Melissa Roth reached on a fielder's choice, both runners moved on a wild pitch to set up Wadwell's two-run single to make the score 6-0.
Wadwell (3-4) got the win, allowing one earned run and scattering two hits while striking out six in six innings. Kassie Stanfill held the Wildcats scoreless and gave up one hit with a strikeout in the seventh. The Cards had five hits in the game. Wadwell was 1 for 2 with a run and two RBI.
Kat Walsh (2-2) took the loss, allowing four earned runs on four hits while fanning four in 4.2 innings. Nicci Ward surrendered two earned runs on one hit with three strikeouts in 1.1 innings. Morese was 2 for 3 with a home run.
In game two, Stanfill tossed a complete game one-hit shutout as the Cards completed the sweep with a 5-0 win.
The Cardinals jumped to an early 1-0 lead when Audrey Rendon led off the first with a bunt single, took second on Counts' sacrifice bunt, moved to third on Courtney Moore's base hit and crossed the plate on Cunningham's RBI single.
U of L added another run in the third when Cunningham reached on an error. Roth's base hit placed runners on first and second and Wadwell's single sent Cunningham home to make it a 2-0 game.
Louisville added two more insurance runs in the sixth when Sarah Totten walked, Kassie Stanfill reached on a fielder's choice and Audrey Rendon delivered a two-out double to score Totten. Counts' two-run single plated Stanfill and Rendon for the final 5-0 tally.
Stanfill (9-5) got the win, limiting the Wildcats to one hit in seven innings. The Cards had eight hits in the game with Rendon leading the way going 2 for 3 with a double, two runs and an RBI.
Laura Determan (9-5) took the loss, allowing eight hits and five runs, four earned, and striking out seven in six innings. Jessica Curtis had Villanova's lone hit, a double in the fourth. The Wildcats drop to 14-11 (0-2 BIG EAST).
"I was very pleased to see several different players really step up in the face of all the injuries that we've had this season," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "I was happy with our pitching performances today as well as our offense and overall team effort as we open conference with two wins."
Louisville (18-15, 2-0 BIG EAST) will play host to Rutgers (10-20, 0-2) in a doubleheader Sunday at 11 a.m. Sunday's game will also feature an Easter egg hunt with prizes that include: a Wii, PSP, Nintendo DS, an autographed basketball jersey, tickets to U of L athletic events, Louisville Bats baseball games and Louisville Fire Arena football games. There will also be special appearances by the Cardinal Bird, Buddy Bat and Axe the Fire Dog.
