University of Louisville
USF
Cards Take Down Bulls 11-0 and 3-2
April 26, 2008 | Softball
April 26, 2008
TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Louisville softball team swept BIG EAST Conference leader South Florida, defeating the Bulls 11-0 in game one and used a play at the plate in the bottom of the seventh to win the nightcap 3-2. The Cardinals improve to 27-18 (12-6 BIG EAST), while USF drops to 40-17 (14-4).
"I am extremely proud of our team, they came in and did exactly what we needed to do," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "We played aggressively, and came out swinging our bats, which into us putting runs on board. I'm proud of Kristen Wadwell and the performance she had today. She proved she truly is one of the best in the conference."
In game one, the Cardinals jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Melissa Roth led off the game with a single, took second on Sarah Totten's sacrifice bunt, stole third and scored on Colby Wherry's RBI single.
USF's best chance to score came in the second. Alison Savarese drew a one-out walk and McCarver and Aya Nakajima delivered back-infield hits to load the bases with two outs. Louisville starter Kristen Wadwell retired the final batter to end the inning.
Louisville used three walks, three errors and two hits - including Roth's three-run double - to put up an eight spot in the top of the third. Kristi Cunningham reached on an error to start the inning. Chelsea Bemis and Colby Wherry drew back-to-back two-out walks to load the bases for Kassie Stanfill's RBI single, increasing the lead to 2-0. York's walk plated Bemis. A misplay on Christina Roesel's fielder's choice sent Wherry home. Kaylyn Castillo reached on another error which allowed Stanfill and York to score. Roth's three-run double gave the Cards a 9-0 lead.
U of L tacked on two more runs in the fourth when Chelsea Bemis registered a leadoff single, Wherry walked, both runners moved when York reached on an error. Roesel was safe on an infield hit which sent Bemis home. Wherry crossed the plate on Castillo's single to make the score 11-0.
Wadwell (15-11) notched her second consecutive complete game shutout, scattering three hits and striking out four. Roth was 2 for 4 with a double and three RBI.
Courtney Mosch (16-7) took the loss, surrendering seven runs, only one earned, on three hits in 2.2 innings. Kristen Gordon gave up four runs, two earned on four hits and one strikeout in 2.1 innings of relief.
In game two, the teams played through four scoreless innings before the Cards broke through with three runs in the in the fifth. Cunningham walked and Roth was hit by a pitch. Totten followed with an RBI single to place runners on the corners and then stole second. Roth was safe at the plate when Bemis reached on a fielder's choice. Wherry's groundout plated Totten to make it a 3-0 game.
The Bulls responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Nakajima led off with an infield single, took second on Tara Toscano's groundout and came home on Britta Giddens' double, making the score 3-1.
USF mounted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh, but the Cardinal defense stood strong. Kit Dunbar reached on an infield single, Giddens walked and Jojo Medina was safe on an infield single to load the bases with one out. Robinson's fielder's choice saw Dunbar out at home, but the bases remained loaded. Savarese delivered a hit to centerfield which scored Giddens. Kelly McCarver, pinch running for Medina, also attempted to score the tying run, but Louisville centerfielder Kristi Cunningham came up with the ball and rifled a throw to catcher Melissa Roth, who tagged McCarver out at the plate to end the game.
Wadwell (16-11) picked up her second complete-game win of the day, allowing two earned runs on nine hits and striking out four. Totten was 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI. Stanfill and Bemis also had two hits in the game.
USF starting pitcher Capri Catalano (14-1) suffered her first loss of the season, alloing three earned runs on seven hits and striking out six in seven innings. Giddens was 3 for 3 with a run and an RBI. Savarese was 2 for 4 with an RBI. The Bulls drop to 40-17 (14-4 BIG EAST), but remain atop league standings.
The Cardinals (27-18, 12-6 BIG EAST) move into fourth place in the conference. U of L will honor seniors Skye Miller and Sarah Totten on Senior Day, Tuesday, April 29 at 5 p.m. before the single game against Evansville.
