University of Louisville
MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE
Softball Falls 6-3 to Middle Tennessee
April 18, 2007 | Softball
April 18, 2007
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville softball team snapped an eight game winning streak with a 6-3 loss to visiting Middle Tennessee Wednesday evening at Ulmer Stadium. The Cardinals drop to 26-17 while the Blue Raiders improve to 23-22 on the season
Middle Tennessee jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first. Corrie Abel led off the game with a single, stole second and scored on Whitney Darlington's double. Darlington moved to third on a wild pitch and came home on Shelby Stiner's base hit.
The Cardinals got a run back in the bottom of the third inning when Melissa Roth was safe on infield single. Courtney Moore followed with a hit to place runners on first and second. Kristi Cunningham's single plated Roth to pull Louisville within a run.
Middle Tennessee took advantage of four hits in the fourth to increased the lead to 6-2. Melissa Weiland led off the frame with a single and was lifted for pinch runner Kristine Reed who was safe at second on Ashley Cline's fielder's choice. Jessica Ives' sacrifice bunt moved the runners to set up Justine Cerda's two-run single. Able delivered a base hit and Darlington was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Martha Davis' two-run single.
The Cardinals put up two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Roth singled and scored on Moore's double. Brooke McCrain's base hit sent Moore home to make it a 6-3 game.
Louisville starter Catherine Bishop (6-7) took the loss, allowing two earned runs on seven hits and striking out six in 6.0 innings. Kristen Wadwell gave up four earned runs in relief. Offensively, the Cards had 11 hits in the contest, led by Moore's 4 for 4, one run, one RBI performance. Roth was 3 for 4 with two runs.
Lindsey Vander Lugt (16-14) picked up the complete game win for Middle Tennessee, giving up three earned runs on 11 hits. The Blue Raiders also had 11 hits in the game. Abel went 3 for 4 with two runs and two stolen bases.
The Cards (26-17) currently stand at 7-1 and in third place in BIG EAST standings. They will travel to second place Notre Dame for a doubleheader Saturday and continue to first place and No. 11/17 ranked DePaul for a Sunday doubleheader.
