Softball Splits with Rutgers
April 06, 2008 | Softball
April 6, 2008
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - - The University of Louisville softball team split a doubleheader with BIG EAST Conference opponent Rutgers Sunday afternoon. After falling 6-0 in the first game, the Cardinals picked up a 9-2 win in the second.
"I was not happy with the way we played the first game today," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "This team needs to learn to come ready to play each and every game."
The Scarlet Knights took an early lead when Amanda Shaw led off the bottom of the first with a single and Amanda Heller followed with a double to place runners on second and third with no outs. Louisville starting pitcher Kristen Wadwell retired the next two batters, but Shaw was able to cross the plate on a wild pitch to give Rutgers a 1-0 lead.
RU added put up a four-spot in the third. Shantai Dixon started things off by reaching on a leadoff double and scored on Mallory Miller's one-out base hit. Sarah Kalka's three-run shot over the right field fence plated Miller and Heller who had reached on a walk.
Rutgers increased the lead to 6-0 in the fourth. Kim Hodges ripped a shot down the left field line and was lifted for pinch runner Jen Meinheit. Ashley Hartley followed with a an RBI single.
After allowing Colby Wherry's single in the second inning, Rutgers' starting pitcher Nicole Lindley retired the next 16 batters until Kassie Stanfill's one-out double in the top of the seventh.
Lindley picked up the complete-game shutout win, limiting Louisville to two hits while striking out six. Shaw led the Scarlet Knights at the plate with two hits and a run.
The loss marked only the third time the Cards have been held scoreless this season and the first since a 3-0 loss to Pacific on Feb. 29.
U of L made up for the lack of offense in the first game by rolling to a 9-2 win in game two. The Cards used five hits and two errors to put up a five-spot in the second. Wherry started the scoring with a leadoff single. A fielding error on Chelsea Bemis' sacrifice bunt attempt placed runners on first and second. Melissa Roth's double sent Wherry home. Another miscue allowed Wadwell to reach and Bemis to cross the plate. Kristi Cunningham's bunt single plated Roth. Kassie Stanfill and Sarah Totten registered back-to-back RBI hits to make it a 5-0 game.
Rutgers used a hit, two walks and two errors for two runs in the third. Shaw drew a leadoff walk and took second on Shaw's sacrifice bunt. Miller reached on an error to place runners on the corners with one out. Shaw crossed the plate when Kate Valiante reached on another Louisville miscue. Kalka reached on a fielder's choice which saw Miller out at third. Mandy Craig's infield single loaded the bases for Hodges, who drew a walk to bring home Valiante for the 5-2 score.
Louisville answered with two runs in the fourth. Kristen Wadwell led off with a shot over center field for her second home run of the season to increase the lead to 6-2. Cunningham followed with a double, took third on Stanfill's sacrifice bunt and scored when an error allowed Brittany York to reach and take second. Wherry's RBI single made it an 8-2 game.
Louisville tacked on its final run in the fifth when Rebecca Sakefski was hit by a pitch, moved to third when Wadwell reach on an error and scored on Cunningham's single for the 9-2 win.
Wadwell (10-9) got the win, allowing two unearned runs on five hits and striking out three. The Cardinals collected 10 hits in the game with Cunningham's 3 for 3, two-run, two RBI performance leading the way. Wherry went 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI and Totten was 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI.
Chrissy Yard (4-11) took the loss after giving up six runs, only one earned, on seven hits in 4.2 innings. Miller and Craig each went 2 for 4 in the game. Rutgers drops to 13-21 (2-6 BIG EAST).
U of L (20-14, 6-2) will play host to conference opponent Syracuse on Friday, April 11 in a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m.
