University of Louisville
PROVIDENCE
Softball Sweeps Providence 4-3, 4-0
April 29, 2007 | Softball
April 29, 2007
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - - The University of Louisville softball team celebrated senior day by sweeping visiting Providence 4-3 and 4-0 in a BIG EAST doubleheader Sunday.
In the first game, Brittany York's pinch-hit single in the bottom of the seventh gave the Cards a 4-3 win and snap a season-high four game losing streak.
The Friars took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third when Jenna Garcia led off the frame with a single, Rachel Bartholomew walked and both scored on Becker's two-out triple.
After leaving the bases loaded in the first and second, the Cards finally capitalized on the situation to tie the game in the fourth. Candi Hicks singled and stole second. Melissa Roth and Courtney Moore walked to load the bases for Kristi Cunninghams's two-run hit to tie the game.
The Cardinals pulled ahead 3-2 in the fifth when Brooke McCrain led off with a double, took third on Rebecca Saksefski's groundout and crossed the plate on Sarah Totten's groundout.
Bartholomew blasted a leadoff home run over the right field fence to tie the game at 3-3 in the top of the seventh.
With the game tied in the bottom of the seventh, Kassie Stanfill delivered a leadoff double and took third on McCrain's sacrifice bunt. York stepped up to the plate drove the first pitch into shallow right field to score Stanfill for the game-winner.
Providence had threatened to push runs across in the first when a two-out walk and two singles loaded the bags, but Cardinal starter Kristen Wadwell got the next batter to ground out to end the inning. The fifth brought another opportunity for Providence to break open the tie. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases, but reliever Kassie Stanfill got out of the jam with a strikeout and groundout.
Stanfill (11-5) picked up the win, allowing one earned run, one hit, and striking out six in four innings. Wadwell gave up two earned runs on four hits in three innings of work. Cunningham led the Cards' 11 hit attack, going 3 for 4 with two RBI. Hicks was 2 for 3 with a run.
Surosky (11-11) took the loss, giving up four earned runs on 11 hits and striking out two in 6.1 innings. Garcia, Bartholomew and Becker each had a pair of hits.
In game two, the Friars took a page from the first game, using three singles to load the bases with one out in the first. Louisville starter Catherine Bishop retired the next two batters to preserve the shutout.
The Cards broke through with two runs in the second. Stanfill and McCrain delivered back-to-back singles and Rebecca Saksefski loaded the bases with a walk. A wild pitch sent Stanfill home and McCrain to third. Totten's groundout plated McCrain to make it a 2-0 game.
U of L added to the lead in the fourth when Totten reached on a fielder's choice and took second on Hicks' two-out walk. Rendon's RBI single sent Totten home to make the score 3-0.
The Cardinals tacked on one more run in the fifth. Moore registered a leadoff double, took third on Cunningham's fly-out to deep centerfield and came home on Stanfill's base hit for the 4-0 final.
The Friars had one last chance to get on the scoreboard in the top of the seventh when Jenna Garcia reached on a fielder's choice and Mary Rose Sheehy drew a two-out walk, but Bishop got Bartholomew to ground out for the win.
Bishop (8-9) went the distance for her fourth shutout of the season. The senior struck out seven and gave up six hits. Moore was 2 for 3 with a double and a run. Stanfill was 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI. Rendon was 2 for 4 with a stolen base and an RBI.
All of the Cards' seniors contributed to Louisville's success on the day. Rendon went 3 for 8 with an RBI, Moore went 3 for 5 with a run, Hicks went 2 for 5 with a run and Bishop notched a complete-game shutout.
Jennifer Maccio (7-5) took the loss, allowing four earned runs on seven hits in 4.1 innings. Pittman was 2 for 3 in the game. The Friars drop to 22-22 (6-14).
"Our pitching staff had been struggling lately, so it was good to see Kassie Stanfill and Catherine Bishop get some confidence-building wins," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "Two conference wins also helps with the team's confidence as we head down the stretch towards the Big East tournament."
U of L (30-21, 11-5 BIG EAST) will travel to Evansville for a mid-week non-conference game Tuesday at 5 p.m. After that, the Cards will hit the road to close out the regular season at Seton Hall on May 5 and St. John's on May 6.
