University of Louisville
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North Florida (Samford Bulldog Bash)
Softball Splits on First Day of Samford Bulldog Bash
February 15, 2008 | Softball
Feb. 15, 2008
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - - The University of Louisville softball team fell to North Florida 5-3 in the first game, but rebounded for a 3-0 win over host Samford Friday on the first day of the Samford Bulldog Bash.
"We had a letdown in the first game," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "I was disappointed in all areas of our game this morning. Give credit to North Florida and the job they did. We need to decide that every game is important and come with the same focus and intensity. In our second game, the one area we did not do well in was execution, but we did see a great pitching performance from Kristen Wadwell and some timely hitting from Melissa Roth, Chelsea Bemis and Brittany York to help us win that game. Samford is a good team and I fully expect to see them again."
In the first game of the day, the Cards built an early 3-0 lead, but couldn't hang on as the Ospreys used two home runs and a double to get the win.
The Cardinals jumped to an early lead in the first inning. Melissa Roth led off the game with her team-leading fifth double of the season. Sarah Totten was hit by a pitch and Kaylyn Castillo walked to load the bases. Chelsea Bemis delivered a two-run double, scoring Roth and Totten to put Louisville on the board. Kassie Stanfill and Colby Wherry drew back-to-back walks to push Castillo across the plate and make it a 3-0 game.
The Ospreys answered in the bottom of fourth when Heather Hyde was hit by a pitch and Gwen Williams followed with a one-out home run to cut the lead to one run.
Caroline Torre led off the bottom of the fifth with a solo shot over the centerfield fence to tie the game at 3-3.
In the bottom of the sixth, Hyde and Ashley Battaglia drew walks and Devyn Findley reached on an error to load the bases with one out. Lauren Pulling's two-out double to left field gave North Florida the 5-3 win.
North Florida starter Findley went the distance in the win. After giving up two hits in the first inning and a leadoff double in the second, she did not give up a hit the rest of the game and struck out eight. The Ospreys improve to 3-3 on the season.
Louisville reliever Kristen Wadwell (1-1) took the loss, allowing two unearned runs in one inning. Starter Kassie Stanfill surrendered two earned runs on two hits with two strikeouts in 3.1 innings. Mandi Rodriguez gave up one earned run on one hit in 1.2 innings of work. Roth led the Cards at the plate, going 2 for 4 with two doubles and a run.
In game two, Kristen Wadwell posted a career-high 12 strikeouts and Brittany York powered a two-run homer as the Cards defeated host Samford 3-0.
Louisville broke through a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third when Roth reached on a two-out error stole second and came home on Bemis' RBI single to take a 1-0 lead.
The Bulldogs best chance to score came in the top of the fourth when Jessica Owen's hit to short left field fell in for a leadoff triple. Jeslyn Metcalf followed with a walk and stole second to place two runners in scoring position with no outs. Louisville starter Kristen Wadwell got Emily Deaux to pop up to second and struck out Kristy Lawrence and Amanda Jordan to end the inning.
The Cardinals had a chance to push more runs across in the bottom of the fifth when Colby Wherry led off with a single and Roth's base hit placed runners at first and second. Samford shortstop Amanda Jordan made great catch to rob Totten of a hit and then stopped Bemis' line drive.
Louisville did put up two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Kristi Cunningham led off with a bunt single to set up Brittany York's two-run shot over the left field fence, giving the Cards a 3-0 lead.
Wadwell (2-1) went the distance to get the shutout win, registering a career-high 11 strikeouts and limited Samford to three hits. Roth was 2 for 3 with a run and a stolen base.
Stephanie Royall (0-1) took the loss, allowing three runs, only one earned, on six hits with three strikeouts in six innings.
U of L (4-2) will face Troy Saturday at noon (ET).
