Softball will Play Host to Connecticut and Providence this Weekend
April 26, 2007 | Softball
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April 26, 2007
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville softball team will play host to Connecticut in a BIG EAST doubleheader Friday at 4 p.m. The Cards will close out the home season and celebrate senior day against conference opponent Providence Sunday at 11 a.m.
About Louisville
Louisville (28-19) is currently second in BIG EAST standings with a 9-3 league record. The Cards are hitting a solid .293 as a team and are led by senior Courtney Moore's .361 average, nine home runs, 10 doubles and 35 RBI. Senior Audrey Rendon follows with a .353 batting average, leads the conference with 61 hits and has 30 runs and 20 stolen bases. Sophomore Kristi Cunningham carries a .321 batting average with five homers, eight doubles, 26 RBI and 10 stolen bases. Freshman Melissa Roth steps in hitting .311 with eight doubles and 28 runs.
In the circle, the Cardinals are led by senior Catherine Bishop (7-8) who holds a 2.21 ERA with 104 strikeouts in 101.1 innings. Freshman Kristen Wadwell (11-6) has a 2.33 ERA with 75Ks in 120.0 innings. Kassie Stanfill (10-5) has a 2.44 ERA with 61 strikeouts in 94.2 innings.
Celebrating Senior Day
The Cardinals will celebrate senior day Sunday in between the Providence doubleheader. The University of Louisville will honor seniors: Catherine Bishop, Candi Hicks, Courtney Moore and Audrey Rendon. As a class, they are each four-year starters, have amassed 157 wins - the most for any class in Louisville softball history - set numerous school records, won the 2006 BIG EAST regular season championship and the 2005 Conference USA regular season championship. In addition, they helped the Louisville softball program reach three NCAA tournament regional appearances, advancing to the finals for the first time in school history in 2006. They each played a significant role in helping U of L softball attain its first top 20 ranking last year.
Last up for the Cards
The Cardinals lost to No. 11/17 DePaul 8-2 in the first game and dropped a 5-4 eight inning heartbreaker in the nightcap. Catherine Bishop (7-8) took the loss, allowing seven earned runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings. Kristen Wadwell gave up one earned run on three hits in 2.1 innings. York, Rendon, Moore and Kristi Cunningham accounted for the Cardinals hitting.
In game two, the Cards scored three runs in the top of the sixth to take a 4-3 lead, but DePaul answered in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game and Sandy Vojik's walk-off solo home run in the eighth kept the No. 11/17 Blue Demons undefeated in BIG EAST play.
With the Cards down 3-1 in the top of the seventh, Melissa Roth led off with a double and Cunningham registered her fifth home run of a one-out deep shot over left field to tie the game at 3-3. Brooke McCrain walked and Kassie Stanfill followed with a hit. Both runners moved on a wild pitch. Sarah Totten's two-out single plated pinch runner Missy Vascil to give Louisville a 4-3 lead. U of L starter Kristen Wadwell (10-6) took the loss, allowing four earned runs on six hits in 5.1 innings. Stanfill gave up one earned run on one hit in one inning.
Cardinals vs. Connecticut
April 27- 4 p.m. at Ulmer Stadium
Series Record: Louisville leads 2-0
Last meeting: April 9, 2006 - The Cards swept a doubleheader 6-1 and 12-0 in Storrs.
Scouting the Huskies: UConn enters the weekend with a 20-18 record and stand fifth in the conference at 8-7. The Huskies are coming off of a 3-1 eight-inning loss to Boston College on Tuesday. Prior to that they were on a five-game winning streak which included sweeps of BIG EAST Conference opponents Vilanova and Rutgers. UConn is led offensively by Jillian Ortega who is batting .376 with five home runs, 10 doubles and 30 RBI. Current BIG EAST Player of the Week Micah Truax leads the league with 11 homers and has 29 runs and 27 RBI. Krista Michalczyk has a team-best 10-6 record with 40 strikeouts in 100.1 innings.
Cardinals vs. Providence
April 29- 1:00 p.m. at Ulmer Stadium
Series Record: Louisville leads 2-0
Last meeting: May 4, 2006 - The Cardinals swept a doubleheader 8-1 and Kristi Cunningham's home run in the eighth gave Louisville a 4-1 win.
Scouting the Friars: Providence enters the weekend with a 22-18 overall record and is currently in ninth place with a 6-10 BIG EAST mark. The Friars are coming off of a doubleheader sweep of Yale beating them 7-1 and 8-0 in five innings on Wednesday. PC is batting a healthy .291 on the season, led by Rachel Bartholomew's .392 average, nine home runs and conference best 37 RBI. Christy Becker follows with a .346 batting average, six homers and 25 RBI. In the circle, Sara Surosky (11-9) carries a 2.93 ERA with 110 Ks in 107.1 innings of work.
Up Next
The Cards will travel to Evansville for a single game on May 1 before traveling to the Seton Hall and St. John's to close out the season May 5 and 6 respectively.
Bishop Selected to Australian National Team
Catherine Bishop has been selected to play for the Australian National Team in the Canada Cup which will take place in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada June 30-July 8.
Bishop is one of 17 players chosen to participate in the Canada Cup - one of the premier elite level international fastpitch tournaments in the world. This will be her third appearance in the Canada Cup for the Australia. She has also been selected as one of 15 players invited to play in the World University Games which will take place August 7-17 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Cardinal Quick Hits
• Audrey Rendon leads the conference and is currently ranked ninth in the nation in triples per game (0.13 - six total)
• Courtney Moore and Kristi Cunningham are each on 10 game hitting streaks
• The 8-2 win over Notre Dame (4/21) gave Catherine Bishop sole possession of the career wins record with 57.
• Louisville has won 7 of its last 10 games
• The Cards will celebrate senior day on Sunday against Providence - all four members of this year's class are four-year starters and have gone to the NCAA tournament in every season of their careers.
Courtney Moore Named to BIG EAST Honor Roll
Senior shortstop Courtney Moore was named to the BIG EAST honor roll on April 23. She led the team with a 545 batting average (12 for 22) with five doubles and two home runs, six runs and six RBI. She also had a 1.045 slugging percentage and a .565 on-base percentage. Moore had at least one hit in every game, going 3 for 4 against EKU and 4 fo4 against Middle Tennessee. Moore is currently on a 10 game hitting streak and moved within one run of teammate Audrey Rendon on the school's all-rime runs list.
Cardinals Complete Doubleheader Sweep of Notre Dame
The University of Louisville softball team swept host Notre Dame 8-2 and 5-0 in a BIG EAST Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon. The Cards improved to 9-1 in league play. Bishop got the complete game win, allowing two runs, one earned on seven hits and striking out three. The Cards had 11 hits in the game. Stanfill was 3 for 4 with two runs. Moore went 2 for 4 with a homer, a double, two runs and two RBI. Rendon was 2 for 4 with two runs, two RBI and two stolen bases. Roth also had a pair of hits with a double, two RBI and a run.
In game two, the Cards capitalized on five hits and an error to put up a five spot in the third. Hicks got things started with a bunt single to leadoff the inning. Rendon reached on an error to place runners on the corners. Roth was hit by a pitch to load the bags for Moore's two-run single. McCrain stepped up to the plate for a two-run double, giving U of L a 4-0 lead. Saksefski's base hit plated McCrain to make the score 5-0. Wadwell picked up the complete-game shutout win, giving up three hits and striking out four. The Cardinals had nine hits in the game, led by McCrain's 2 for 4, one run, two RBI performance.
Cardinals Sweep Syracuse
Louisville improved to 7-1 in BIG EAST play with a doubleheader sweep of host Syracuse on April 14.
In the first game, the Cards took a 5-0 lead and never looked back as they went on to win 7-2. Freshman Rebecca Saksefski led the team with a 3 for 3, two-run, two RBI performance. She also notched her first career home run. Sophomore OF Kristi Cunningham also blasted her fourth homer of the season. Kristen Wadwell picked up the win and Catherine Bishop got the save. In game two, the Cardinals took a 2-0 lead, but the Orange responded with two runs in the sixth. U of L capitalized on five hits to put up four runs in the fourth. Freshman catcher Melissa Roth's RBI single scored the winning run and senior shortstop Courtney Moore's three-run double provided insurance runs. Roth was 3 for 4 with two runs. Wadwell picked up her second win of the day.
Pitt Doubleheader Postponed
The University of Louisville softball doubleheader against Pittsburgh, slated Sunday, April 15 was postponed until a later date due to inclement weather and poor field conditions. A make-up date has not been set.
Bishop Named to BIG EAST Honor Roll
Senior Catherine Bishop was named to the BIG EAST honor roll on april 16. Bishop was strong in every outing this week as she continues to recover from stress fractures. She posted a 1.27 ERA, surrendering only two earned runs and scattering nine hits with nine strikeouts in 11 innings. She had two starts on the week (Kentucky and the 6-2 Syracuse win) and got a save. She did not allowing a run in league play while giving up six his and striking out four in seven innings.
Working Overtime
The Cardinals have played six extra inning games this season and are 4-2 in those games. In the most recent extra inning contest, the Card fell to 11th-ranked DePaul 5-4 in eight innings (4/21). Louisville started the season with an eight-inning 4-2 over Florida International. They defeated Liberty 4-3 (8); South Florida 3-2 (9); and Kentucky 7-6 (9). Their only other extra-inning loss was a 3-2, eight-inning decision against Iowa. U of L owns a 25-18 all-time record in extra innings affairs with the most wins coming in 2000 - the program's inaugural season - when the Cards went 6-4 in extra innings.
Wadwell Named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week; Rendon Selected to Honor Roll
Kristen Wadwell was named BIG EAST Softball Pitcher of the Week and Audrey Rendon was selected to the league honor roll for the period ending April 8.
Wadwell posted a 2-0 record last week with a 1-0 win against Indiana and a 3-2 win over conference opponent South Florida. Against Indiana, she tossed six-inning no-hitter and combined with Catherine Bishop for the shutout. Wadwell went the distance in the 3-2, nine inning win over USF. On the week, Wadwell surrendered only two earned runs and nine hits in 15 innings, posting a 0.93 ERA and a .173 opponent batting average. She also recorded eight strikeouts.
Rendon batted .615 (8 for 13) on the week with a double, four runs and five stolen bases. She had at least one hit and scored at least one run in each of Louisville's games. Two of her runs scored proved to be game winners in a week in which all of the Cardinals' victories came by one run. Rendon went 3 for 3 with two stolen bases and scored the winning run in the 1-0 win over Indiana. She went 4 for 5 with one run - the game-winner - and three stolen bases in the 3-2 win over USF. Rendon also went 1 for 5 with two runs in the 5-4 victory over USF.
Cards Sweep USF 3-2 and 5-4
The Cards edged host South Florida 3-2 in nine innings in the first game and held on for a 5-4 win in game two Saturday afternoon in a BIG EAST doubleheader. In game one, USF took a 1-0 lead into the seventh, but the Cards tied the game in the seventh when pinch-runner Missy Vascil scored on Brooke McCrain's hit and an error on the play. McCrain struck again with a two-run single in the ninth. Kristen Wadwell went the distance to get the win, scattering nine hits and striking out four in nine innings. Louisville had eight hits in the game. Rendon led at the plate, going 4 for 5 with one run and two stolen bases.
In game two Louisville tied a season high with 13 hits. Moore was 3 for 3 with a double and three RBI. McCrain, Cunningham and Totten each had a pair of hits. Kassie Stanfill picked up the win, allowing three earned runs on six hits and striking out five in 5.0 innings of relief. Starter Catherine Bishop surrendered one earned run on two hits with a strikeout in two innings of work.
Cards Going Deep in the Deck
Louisville has been beset by the injury bug this season and, until recently, has been playing without three starters: senior pitcher Catherine Bishop, sophomore outfielder Brooke McCrain and senior outfielder Candi Hicks have all been recently sidelined due to various injuries. All three players are currently back in the lineup. Bishop and McCrain came back in the April 1 Indiana game which the Cards won 1-0 - and Hicks returned to action on April 14 in the Cards doubleheader sweep of BIG EAST opponent Syracuse. Pitcher/outfielder Kassie Stanfill has also recently sat out with tendonitis.
Rendon Sets Career Hits Record
Senior third baseman Audrey Rendon went 3 for 3 in the 8-4 loss to Villanova on April 1 and became the school's all-time career hit leader. She surpassed Keola Calderon's mark of 240 which has stood since 2003. Rendon now stands by herself with 262 career hits.
Wadwell Named to BIG EAST Honor Roll
Freshman RHP Kristen Wadwell was instrumental in Louisville's 3-1 performance in the Women 4 Women Softball Invitational, posting a 1.71 ERA against No. 6/9 Michigan, No. 7/8 Northwestern, No. 25 California and Liberty. Wadwell pitched in every game with two starts on the weekend. She got the save in the Cards 4-3, eight inning win against Liberty, holding the Lady Flames scoreless, and without a hit and striking out one in the eighth inning. She also pitched 5.1 innings with a career-high six strikeouts in the 5-4 win over No. 7 Northwestern - although she did not get the win because the game was tied when she left in the sixth inning. Wadwell picked up the win against #25 California and did not allow a run in five innings of relief against No. 6 Michigan. She leads the team with a 1.68 ERA. She also batted .429 (3 for 7) on the week with two runs and an RBI. She went 2 for 3 with two runs against Cal and was 1 for 2 against Michigan.
Cards Go 3-1 in Women 4 Women Softball Invitational
The Cards went 3-1 in the Women 4 Women Softball Invitational over the weekend with wins over Liberty, No. 7 Northwestern and No. 25 California. The only loss came at the hands of sixth-ranked Michigan - which was coming off of a loss to Liberty. Louisville and Northwestern each finished the tournament with 3-1 records with the Cards winning the tiebreaker by virtue of head-to-head competition.
- Sophomore right fielder Brooke McCrain helped lead the Cardinals offensively to a 3-1 record in the Women 4 Women Softball Invitational. She batted .417 (5 for 12) with two doubles, three runs and was perfect in the field on the weekend. McCrain went 2 for 4 with an RBI in the 4-3, eight inning win over Liberty, was 1 for 2 with a run in the 5-4 win over No. 7/8 Northwestern and was 2 for 3 with two doubles and two runs in the 12-2 win over No. 25 California.
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.
The Rendon and Moore Show (or Moore and Rendon)
Seniors Audrey Rendon and Courtney Moore have etched their names on nearly every Louisville offensive career and single season record. Currently, Rendon leads the team in hits (61), runs (30), doubles (10), triples (5) and stolen bases (20); while Moore leads in home runs (9), RBI (35), and walks (23).
Load `Em Up for McCrain
Sophomore Brooke McCrain is batting .833 with the bases loaded this season. She has had six at-bats with the bases juiced, and she has record five hits including a double and nine 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.
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 566. She now has 589 career Ks.
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. Rendon is currently in the lead with 149 while Moore is on her heels with 148.
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.
Softball Signs Six for 2007-08
Sandy Pearsall has announced that Chelsea Bemis, Heather Bochenski, Kaylyn Castillo, Morgan Melloh, Christina Roesel and Colby Wherry have signed National Letters-of-Intent to continue their softball careers at the University of Louisville in the fall of 2007.
Chelsea Bemis, a catcher/third baseman joins the Cardinals from San Diego, Calif. (Mount Carmel HS); Heather Bochenski, a shortstop/second baseman from Reno, Nev. (Robert McQueen HS); Kaylyn Castillo, a catcher/third baseman from Norco, Calif. (Norco HS); Morgan Melloh, a pitcher/first baseman from Fishers, Ind. (Hamilton Southeastern HS); Christina Roesel, a switch-hitting utility player from Morris, Ill. (Morris Community HS); and Colby Wherry, a shortstop from Goodlettsville, Tenn., played for Beech HS.
