University of Louisville
Nevada
Softball Edges No. 18/21 Nevada 3-2
February 14, 2009 | Softball
Feb. 14, 2009
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - - The University of Louisville softball team picked up its second win over a top 25 opponent when it defeated No. 18/21 Nevada 3-2 Saturday in the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic in Las Vegas.
After playing through two scoreless innings, the Cards put up three unearned runs in the third. Freshman Kristin Austin got things started with a single and moved to third on junior Melissa Roth's double. Junior Vanessa James reached on a fielder's choice which got Austin in a rundown while trying to score from third. An eventual throwing error by the Nevada catcher sailed into leftfield, allowing all three base runners to cross the plate.
The Wolfpack loaded the bases, but came up empty in the bottom of the third. Michelle Beach delivered a leadoff double, Sarah Hunt was hit by a pitch and Noelle Micka's single loaded the bases with one out. Kym Silagy sent the ball into shallow left field. Brittany York fielded the ball near the left field line and threw to home to get Beach on the force out at the plate. Louisville starting pitcher Kristen Wadwell got Brittany Puzey to groundout to get out of the jam.
Nevada put up a run in the fourth. Britton Murdock connected on a leadoff single, took third on Kelsey Starr's base hit and came hom when Sam Bias reached on a fielder's choice to make it a 3-1 game.
The Wolfpack struck again in the bottom of the fifth when Silagy drew a two-out walk, took third on Puzey's double and crossed the plate on a wild pitch to make it a 3-2 game.
The Cards withstood two more Nevada scoring opportunities. In the bottom of the sixth, a two-base error allowed Starr to reach second, representing the tying run in scoring position with no outs. Wadwell retired the next three batters with two strikeouts and a flyout to end the inning. In the bottom of the seventh, two infield hits placed runners on first and second with one out, but the Cardinal defense came through for the win.
"While we were glad to get the win, I thought we played very uninspired this afternoon," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "We needed to be more aggressive and focused against a very good team like Nevada and instead, we did not play up to our potential. We were fortunate to come away with a win."
Wadwell (5-1) went the distance to get the win, giving up seven hits and fanning four. The Cards had four hits in the game.
Nevada starter Katie Holverson (3-2) took the loss, allowing three unearned runs on four hits and striking out four in seven innings. The Wolfpack drops to 6-2 on the season.
U of L (7-1) will face South Dakota State Saturday evening at 9 p.m. (Eastern).
* Note: Today's win marks U of L Associate Head Coach Carol Bruggeman's 500th career victory.
