University of Louisville
CONNECTICUT
Softball Drops Doubleheader to UConn 6-4 and 4-1
April 27, 2007 | Softball
April 27, 2007
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - - The University of Louisville softball team fell to visiting Connecticut 6-4 and 4-1 in a BIG EAST doubleheader Friday evening. The Cards drop to 28-21 (9-5), while UConn moves to 22-18 (10-7).
In the first game, the Huskies jumped to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Holly Calcagno singled and scored when Jillian Ortega reached on a Cardinal error. Allie Gendron followed with a hit to set up Lauren Checchi's three-run shot over centerfield.
The Cards got a run back in the home half of the inning when Audrey Rendon led off with her league-leading seventh triple of the season and crossed the plate when Melissa Roth reached on an error to make the score 4-1.
UConn tacked on two more runs in the fifth when Micah Truax led off the frame with a single and Ortega delivered a one-out, two-run shot over left field to increase the lead to 6-1.
U of L added a run in the bottom of the fifth when Roth doubled and scored on Kristi Cunningham's double to make it a 6-2 game.
The Cards scored again to make it a 6-3 game in the bottom of the sixth. Stanfill and Saksefski registered back-to-back singles and Totten's walk loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly off the bat of pinch-hitter Brittany York plated Stanfill. With the bases still loaded, UConn starter Krista Michalczyk got to Rendon to pop up to shortstop and Roth to line out to centerfield to stave off the Cardinal rally.
UConn threatened to increase the lead in the seventh, using two walks and a hit to load the bases with one out, but Stanfill struck out the next to batters to get out of the jam.
The Cardinals started to put together another rally in the bottom of the seventh when Courtney Moore delivered a leadoff double, Cunningham walked and Brooke McCrain singled to load the bases with no outs. Stanfill reached on a fielder's choice which saw Moore out at the plate. Saksefski drew an RBI walk to score Cunningham and pull the Cards within two runs. Michalczyk got Totten to hit into a fielder's choice and Candi Hicks to ground out to end the game.
Michalczyk (11-6) got the win, allowing four runs, three earned on 10 hits in 6.2 innings. Turax was 3 for 4 with two runs.
Bishop (7-9) was tagged with the loss, giving up four earned runs on four hits. The Cardinals had 11 hits in the game and stranded 11 runners. Saksefski was 2 for 3 with an RBI. Rendon and Stanfill each had a pair of hits.
Game two featured a pitcher's duel with both teams scoreless through four innings before Hicks delivered a hit and came home on a single by Roth to give the Cards a 1-0 lead in the fifth.
The Huskies scored all four of their runs in the bottom of the seventh. Jessica Quan registered a one-out double and came home on Danielle Del Ponte's pinch-hit single to tie the game at 1-1. Kristina Tolles reached on a pinch-hit fielder's choice. Meghan Tierney, running for Tolles, crossed the plate on a two-out double by Truax to give the Huskies a 2-1 lead. Calcagno and Gendron each delivered RBI singles to make the score 4-1.
The Cards had one last chance to push runs across in the bottom of the seventh when Hicks singled and Roth was hit by a pitch to bring the tying run to the plate with two outs. UConn starter Tricia Sullivan got Moore to fly out to right field to end the game.
Kristen Wadwell (11-7) took the loss, allowing four earned runs on 10 hits and striking out three in seven innings. Hicks led the Cardinals at the plate going 2 for 2 with a run.
Sullivan (9-7) picked up the complete-game win, giving up one unearned run on five hits. Truax was 3 for 4 with a run and an RBI.
"Our pitching struggled today and we didn't capitalize enough on our chances to score," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "UConn really came ready to play and hit the ball well against us tonight."
U of L will close out the home season in a BIG EAST doubleheader against Providence Sunday at 11 a.m. The Cardinals will celebrate senior day, honoring Catherine Bishop, Candi Hicks, Courtney Moore and Audrey Rendon between games.
