University of Louisville
Syracuse
Softball Sweeps Syracuse 7-2 and 6-2
April 14, 2007 | Softball
April 14, 2007
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - - The University of Louisville softball team improved to 7-1 in BIG EAST play by sweeping host Syracuse 7-2 and 6-2 in a doubleheader Saturday.
"We were happy to get two conference wins against a very tough Syracuse team," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "I was pleased with how aggressive we were at the plate and I thought we hit the ball well today."
In game one, the Cards jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first. Melissa Roth singled and scored on Brooke McCrain's two-out double to put Louisville on the scoreboard.
Rebecca Saksefski delivered her first career home run, a one-out solo shot over the left field fence to give Louisville a 2-0 lead in the second.
The Cardinals put up a three-spot in the fourth when Kristi Cunningham led off the frame with an infield single, stole second and scored on Saksefski's base hit. Sarah Totten walked and Candi Hicks followed with a two-run double to give Louisville a 5-0 lead.
Syracuse came back with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Erin Gray drew a one-out walk. Amy Kelley singled to place runners on the corners. Lindsay Wasek registered an RBI single to score Gray. Nicole Miller's base hit sent Kelley home to make it a 5-2 game.
Louisville tacked on two more runs in the fifth when Courtney Moore led off with a base hit to set up Cunningham's two-run shot over centerfield to increase the lead to 7-2.
Starter Kristen Wadwell (8-5) got the win, tossing four innings and giving up two earned runs on seven hits in five innings. Catherine Bishop picked up her third save of the season, holding the Orange scoreless while striking out two in three innings. U of L had 11 hits in the game, led by Saksefski's 3 for 3, two run, two RBI performance. Cunningham was 2 for 4 with two runs and two RBI.
Chanel Roehner (7-7) took the loss, allowing seven earned runs and striking out three in 4.1 innings. Syracuse had eight hits in the game. McCorkle was 2 for 4.
In game two, the Cards built an early 2-0 lead and then scored four runs in the top of the seventh for the 6-2 win.
The contest was a pitcher's duel through three innings of scoreless play. The Orange had an opportunity to push a run across in the bottom of the third when Miller led off with a hard single back to the pitcher and took second on a throwing error. Ev Anderson's sacrifice bunt sent Miller to third with one out. Tonye McCorkle hit a ground ball to Cardinal second baseman Saksefski who fielded it and rifled a throw to catcher Melissa Roth to cut Miller down at home.
The Cards scored two runs in the fourth with Roth doubled and Cunningham followed with a two-out single. Totten's two-run single plated both runners to make it a 2-0 game.
The Orange used two hits and an error to load the bases with one out in the fourth. Louisville starter Catherine Bishop struck out Wasek and got Miller to foul out to get out of the jam.
Syracuse tied the game in the sixth when Rachel Tilford drew a leadoff walk and Roehner singled. Both runners moved on Gray's sacrifice bunt. Tilford was safe on a play at the plate on Kelley's fielder's choice to pull the Orange within a run. Roehner came home on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Wasek to make it a 2-2 game.
Louisville broke through for four runs in the top of the seventh. Kassie Stanfill delivered a leadoff pinch-hit double and moved to third on Brittany York's base hit. Hicks loaded the bases with a single. Roth's one-out RBI single gave the Cards a 3-2 lead. Moore registered a base-clearing double to make it a 6-2 game.
Wadwell (9-5) got the win in relief, surrendering two earned runs on two hits and striking out two in three innings. Bishop was solid to start the game, holding the Orange scoreless on five hits with two strikeouts in four innings. The Cardinals had 10 hits. Roth was 3 for 4 with a double, two runs and an RBI. Cunningham was 2 for 4 with a double and two stolen bases.
Gardner (8-19) was tagged for the loss after giving up six earned runs on 10 hits and striking out six in seven innings. Roehner was 3 for 3 with a run. Syracuse drops to 15-26 (5-7 BIG EAST).
U of L (25-16, 7-1) will travel to Pittsburgh for another conference doubleheader Sunday at 11 a.m.
