University of Louisville
NOTRE DAME
Softball Falls to Notre Dame 3-1 and 12-4
April 19, 2008 | Softball
April 19, 2008
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - - The University of Louisville softball team dropped two games to Notre Dame, losing 3-1 in eight innings and 12-4 in five in a BIG EAST Conference doubleheader Saturday at Ulmer Stadium. The Cards fall to 23-17 (9-5 BIG EAST), while Notre Dame improves to 29-13 (9-3).
In game one, Linda Kohan's two-run homer in the top of the eighth proved to be the game-winner for the Irish.
The Cardinals got on the scoreboard in the first inning. Kassie Stanfill reached on a fielder's choice, took second on a passed ball and scored on Chelsea Bemis' two-out RBI single to make it a 1-0 game.
Notre Dame responded in the fourth when Ashley Ellis delivered a one-out base hit and scored on Christine Lux's double to right center to tie the game.
The Cards had two opportunities to push runs across but couldn't capitalize. In the sixth inning, Roth singled. Sarah Totten and Stanfill sacrificed Roth to third and Colby Wherry walked to place runners on first and third with two outs. Bemis was called out on an appealed check-swing third strike to end the inning. In the seventh, Brittany York singled. Pinch-runner Missy Vascil took second on Kaylyn Castillo's sacrifice bunt Rebecca Saksefski's groundout to place the winning run on third with two outs. Notre Dame starting pitcher Brittney Bargar retired the final batter to push the game into an extra inning.
Katie Fleury led off the eighth with a walk to set up Kohan's two-run shot over the left field fence, making the score 3-1.
Totten delivered a one-out single in the home half of the inning, but the Bargar retired the final two batters to get the win.
Kristen Wadwell (12-10) took the loss, giving up three earned runs on five hits and striking out four in eight innings. The Cardinals had five hits in the game and were paced by Roth, who went 2 for 4.
Bargar (22-8) got the win, allowing one unearned run on five hits and striking out four.
In game two, Notre Dame took advantage of nine hits, including two doubles and two home runs to defeat the Cards 12-4 in five innings.
Notre Dame took an early 3-0 lead when Ashley Ellis' two-out, three-run homer in the first scored Smith who walked and Kohan who had singled.
Louisville cut the lead to one run in the bottom of the first. Roth led off with a double, and Totten was hit by a pitch. Bemis' single plated Roth and an error on the play allowed Totten to cross as well. The Irish defense recovered and tagged Bemis out while trying to score on the play.
The Cards would get no closer as Notre Dame pulled ahead 5-2 in the second when Brianna Jorgensborg walked, Smith singled and both scored on Kohan's two-run double. The Irish tacked on two more runs in the third. Christine Lux singled, Jorgensborg was hit by a pitch and Fleury walked to load the bases with two outs. Smith reached on a Louisville error which allowed Lux to score and Kohan was hit by a pitch to bring Jorgensborg home to make it a 7-2 game.
U of L scored two runs in the third when Totten walked, Bemis doubled and Colby Wherry delivered a two-run single, bringing score to 7-4.
Lux powered out a solo shot over centerfield in the fourth to add another run to the Irish tally.
In the top of the fifth, Notre Dame used three hits, including Kohan's RBI double and Ellis' three-run single to put the game away with a 12-4 final. The loss tied a Louisville school record for most runs allowed in program history. The record was set in 2005 when U of L suffered a 12-2 loss to Kansas.
U of L starting pitcher Kassie Stanfill (9-6) took the loss, allowing five earned runs on three hits in 1.1 innings. Wadwell surrendered seven runs, five of them earned on six hits in 3.2 innings. Bemis led the Cards offensively, going 2 for 3 with two RBI.
Notre Dame starter Jody Valdivia (7-5) got the win, allowing four runs, three of them earned on four hits with two strikeouts in 4.0 innings. Bargar held Louisville scoreless and gave up one hit in the fifth inning. The Irish improve to 29-13 and 9-3 in league play.
U of L (23-17, 9-5) will look to break a season-high three-game losing streak when No. 20/25 DePaul (31-13, 8-4) visits Ulmer Stadium for a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. Sunday. The first game will be televised live on ESPNU.
