University of Louisville
MISSISSIPPI (CARDINAL CLASSIC)
Softball Splits on First Day of Cardinal Classic
February 23, 2008 | Softball
Feb. 23, 2008
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - - The University of Louisville softball team split a pair of games on the opening day of the Cardinal Classic, falling to Mississippi 2-0, and defeating Nebraska 5-3.
"I thought we played a great game against Ole Miss," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "One big hit made the difference for them and we couldn't seem to put anything together offensively. I was disappointed in our hitting the first game, but against Nebraska, we came out more aggressively at the plate. I was pleased with the pitching from both Kristen Wadwell and Kassie Stanfill.
Lauren Grill's two run homer in the bottom of the fourth gave visiting Mississippi State a 2-0 win in the opening game of the Cardinal Classic.
The game featured a pitcher's duel with both teams accounting for a total of three hits in the game. The Cardinal had a runner in scoring position in the third when Christina Roesel led off the inning with a single and Melissa Roth was hit by a pitch to place runners on first and second with two outs. Ole Miss pitcher Becky Nye retired the next batter to preserve the shutout.
The teams played through three scoreless innings before the Rebels struck for the only runs of the game in the bottom of the fourth. Ashley Dowdy reached on a fielder's choice to set up Grill's two-run shot over the right field fence.
Nye (3-1) got the complete game shutout win, holding the Cards to one hit and striking out two. Grill and Doubt accounted for the Rebel offense.
Louisville starter Kristen Wadwell (2-3) took the loss, giving up two hits and striking out two in six innings.
In game two, the Huskers put up a run in the second inning, but the Cardinals took advantage of a five-run second inning to build a 5-1 lead.
Nebraska had an opportunity to break the game open early in the second inning when Amanda Duran led off with a double, Crystal Carwile singled and both runners were safe on Julie Brechtel's fielder's choice to load the bases with no outs. Louisville starting pitcher Kassie Stanfill threw Duran out at home on Haley Long's fielder's choice and struck out Haley Long for next two outs. Whitney Barrett drew a walk to send Long home to give the Huskers a 1-0 lead.
Louisville answered with five runs in the home half of the inning. Colby Wherry singled and moved to third on Brittney Counts' base hit. Melissa Roth delivered a two-run double to give the Cards a 2-1 advantage. Sarah Totten reached on an error to place runners on the corners to set up Chelsea Bemis' two-run double. Bemis took third on an error and came home on Brittany York's sacrifice fly to make it a 5-1 game.
Nebraska put up two runs in the top of the third. Darcy Rutherford led off the frame with a hit and Ashley Guile followed with a walk. Duran singled and took second on an error which allowed pinch-runner Alex Hupp to cross the plate. A Cardinal error on the attempt to throw out Guile at the plate allowed Brechtel to reach on a fielder's choice and move to second with one out. Stanfill retired the next two batters to end the inning.
Stanfill (2-1) went the distance to get the win, giving up seven hits and striking out two. Wherry was 2 for 3 with a double run. Bemis and Roth were each 2 for 4 with a double, a run and two RBI.
The Cardinals (5-5) will play Nebraska at 1 p.m. and Ole Miss at 3 p.m. on Sunday at Ulmer Stadium.
