University of Louisville
USF
Softball Sweeps USF 3-2 and 5-4
April 07, 2007 | Softball
April 7, 2007
TAMPA, Fla. - - The University of Louisville softball team 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. The Cardinals improve to 22-16 (5-1 BIG EAST) while USF falls to 31-19 (3-3).
"These were two quality conference wins over a tough South Florida team," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "I thought Kristen Wadwell threw well for us today and I was pleased with the way we were able to produce runs and we made some great defensive plays to keep us in the game."
The first game featured a pitcher's duel. The Bulls broke through a scoreless tie in the fourth when Britta Giddens delivered a one-out single, took second on Tara Toscano's sacrifice bunt and scored on Kit Dunbar's base hit.
The Bulls maintained the 1-0 lead as the Cardinals stranded eight runners, five in scoring position in the first six innings of the game.
Louisville evened the score in the top of the seventh. Kassie Stanfill registered a pinch-hit single and was lifted for pinch-runner Missy Vascil who took second on Audrey Rendon's groundout. Brooke McCrain's single sent Vascil to third and she scored on an error to knot the game at 1-1.
Louisville starter Kristen Wadwell and the Cardinals retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings.
The Cardinals took a 3-1 lead in the ninth when Brittney Counts reached on an error and Rendon followed with a bunt single. Both runners moved on Melissa Roth's sacrifice bunt. Courtney Moore walked to load the bases with one out. McCrain stepped up to the plate and delivered a two-run single to right field. Brittany York walked to load the bases, but USF reliever Kristen Gordon struck out the next two batters to stop the scoring.
USF answered in the bottom of the ninth when Lauren Rodriguez drew a one-out walk and scored on Giddens' RBI double to pull the Bulls within one.
Wadwell (6-5) 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, the Cards built a 4-1 lead and held on to defeat USF 5-4 to complete the doubleheader sweep.
Louisville jumped ahead 1-0 in the first inning. Rendon led off the game with an infield hit, moved to second on Roth's sacrifice bunt and scored on Moore's RBI double.
USF tied the game in the home half of the first inning when Tara Toscano reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and crossed the plate on Danielle Urbanik's single to make the score 1-1.
The Cards scored three more runs in the second. Kristi Cunningham led off the frame with a bunt, stole second and scored on Sarah Totten's single to put Louisville back ahead 2-1. Missy Vascil registered a pinch-hit single to place runners on the corners. Brittney Counts' hit loaded the bases. Rendon and Roth both reached on fielder's choices which saw two outs at the plate. Moore's two run single made it a 4-1 game.
USF got a run back in the third when Toscano reached on a fielder's choice, moved to second on Dunbar's infield single and came home on Alison Savarese's base hit to make the score 4-2.
U of L added what would eventually be the winning run in the fourth when Roth doubled and scored on McCrain's fielder's choice to increase the lead to 5-2.
Courtney Mosch doubled to set up Liz Howell's two-run shot over the left field fence to pull the Bulls within a run in the bottom of the fourth.
The Cards had a chance to extend their lead in the sixth when Moore walked, McCrain singled and York walked to load the bases with two outs. USF reliever Bree Spence retired the next batter to get out of the jam.
Louisville tied a season high with 13 hits in the game. Moore was 3 for 3 with a double and three RBI. McCrain, Cunningham and Totten each had a pair of hits. Kassie Stanfill (10-5) pick 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.
Mosch (7-3) took the loss, allowing five earned runs on 10 hits and striking out two in 3.1 innings. Howell was 2 for 3 with a run and two RBI.
U of L (22-16) will play host to Kentucky Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Ulmer Stadium.
