University of Louisville
Oregon State
No. 15 Oregon State Tops Softball 11-4
May 19, 2007 | Softball
May 19, 2007
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - - The University of Louisville softball team fell 11-4 to No. 15 Oregon State in an elimination game Saturday evening in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Cards close the 2007 season with a 37-25 record.
The Beavers jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first. Cambria Miranda led off the game with a double and scored on Mia Longfellow's single. Brianne McGowan's one-out two-run shot over centerfield made it a 3-0 game.
The Cardinals pulled within one run in the bottom of the second when Kassie Stanfill delivered a one-out single and Brooke McCrain followed with her third home run of the season, a towering shot over centerfield to make the score 3-2.
Oregon State used two walks and five hits to put up a four-spot in the third. Miranda and Longfellow registered back-to-back infield hits. DeAnn Young delivered an RBI single and McGowan followed with a two-run hit to make the score 6-2. McGowan was safe on a close play at third when Alana Ford reached on a single. Dani Chisholm walked to load the bases. Kelly Dyer drew a pinch-hit walk to plate McGowan for the 7-2 lead.
The Beavers tacked on another run in the fourth. Longfellow delivered her third hit of the game, moved to third on Young's single and crossed the plate on McGowan's sacrifice fly to make it an 8-2 game.
McGowan's second home run of the game a one-out shot over right field made it 9-2 game. Stefanie Ewing singled, took second on Ford's sacrifice bunt and came home on a hit by Sherina Galvan to increase the lead to 10-2.
Louisville staved off the eight-run mercy rule by scoring a run in the bottom of the sixth. Totten delivered a one-out single. Pinch runner Missy Vascil took second on Brittany York's groundout and came home on Candi Hicks' two-out RBI single, to make it a 10-3 game.
Miranda blasted a one-out solo shot over right field in the seventh to increase the lead to 11-3.
The Cardinals put up a run in the bottom of the seventh when Moore delivered a one-out single, took second on a wild pitch and scored on Stanfill's RBI single to make it an 11-4 game.
McGowan (25-13) got the win giving up three earned runs on eight hits with five strikeouts in seven innings. The Beavers had 15 hits in the game. McGowan was 3 for 3 with two home runs, six RBI and three runs. Longfellow was 4 for 5 with three runs and an RBI. Miranda was 3 for 5 with three runs and an RBI. Oregon State improves to 41-22 on the season and advances to the regional finals against No. 10 Michigan Sunday at 1 p.m.
Catherine Bishop (8-11) took the loss, allowing seven earned runs on eight hits with five strikeouts in 2.1 innings. Kristen Wadwell gave up four earned runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings of relief. Stanfill led at the plate, going 3 for 4 with a home run. McCrain went 2 for 4 with a home run. Totten was also 2 for 4. The Cards close the season with a 37-25 record after winning the BIG EAST tournament and advancing to the NCAA regionals for the fourth time in the program's eight year history.
"We will definitely miss our four seniors who have been so instrumental in our program's success," said Pearsall. "I'm just disappointed for them that their careers ended today."
The Cardinals graduate four seniors who have won three conference championships and appeared in four NCAA regionals and were instrumental in the program's appearance in the top 25 in 2006 and 2007. Shortstop Courtney Moore holds the school career records for slugging percentage (.626), home runs (42) runs (162) and games started (242) . Senior third baseman Audrey Rendon owns the career records for batting average (.376), triples, hits (283) and stolen bases (82). Senior pitcher Catherine Bishop holds the career marks for wins (67), saves (12), shutouts (28) and strikeouts (616). Senior left fielder Candi Hicks is one of the best defensive outfielders in the school history and holds the career record for sacrifice hits (31) and is third on the stolen base list with 46.
