Softball Set for USF The Game Tournament
February 19, 2009 | Softball
Feb. 18, 2009
Complete Game Notes in PDF Format 
The No. 22/25 University of Louisville softball team(9-1) will head to Tampa, Fla. for the USF The Game Tournament Feb. 20-22.
The Cards will open the tournament on Friday, Feb. 20 against Florida A&M. On Saturday, Louisville will match up with 2005 NCAA regional opponent Albany and Jacksonville State. The Cards will close the tournament Sunday against Eastern Michigan.
Sophomore Chelsea Bemis leads the Cardinals with a .448 average (13 for 29) and has four home runs, nine RBI and seven runs. Junior Melissa Roth follows with a .393 average and nine runs. Junior Brittany York carries a .344 batting average and senior senior Kristi Cunningham rounds out the over-.300 hitters with a .313 average, four home runs, and leads the team with 11 RBI. Junior RHP Kristen Wadwell (6-1) owns a 1.30 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 54.0 innings of work and is holding opponents to a .176 batting average. Freshman Tori Collins (3-0) has a 2.62 ERA with eight strikeouts in 16 innings.
Florida A&M
Feb. 20, 1:30 p.m.
Series Record: Louisville leads 1-0
Last Meeting: Feb. 7, 2004 - Louisville won 7-4 at Florida State's Seminole Challenge
About the Rattlers: FAMU enters the weekend with a 3-4 record and on a three-game skid. The Rattlers are coming off of a 9-0, five-inning loss to Georgia Souther, but have wins over Southern, Alabama A&M and Jackson State. Ashley Jones carries a .389 batting average and leads the team with two home runs and nine RBI. Amanda Reyes (2-3) has a 3.50 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 28.0 innings.
Albany
Feb. 21, 9:30 a.m.
Series Record: Louisville leads 1-0
Last Meeting: May 21, 2005 - Louisville won 5-4 in the NCAA Regional at Notre Dame
About the Great Danes: Albany is 3-2 on the season with two wins over Bethune-Cookman and a victory over Stetson. The Great Danes have also suffered two losses to Stetson. Katie Wambold leads the team with a .375 batting average. Gina Mason follows with a .333 average and Nicole Kothe is hitting .300. Marissa Powell (1-3) has logged in 19 innings and carries a 1.89 ERA with 12 strikeouts. Lah McIntosh (2-0) has a 0.60 EAR with 26 Ks in 15.0 innings of work.
Jacksonville State
Feb. 21, 11:30 a.m.
Series Record: First meeting
About the Gamecocks: Jacksonville State (3-2) was an NCAA tournament team last year and entered the 2009 season receiving votes in both polls. The Gamecocks have suffered losses to No. 1 Alabama and Auburn, but have wins over Memphis, Northwestern State and South Alabama. Allie Barker leads the team with a .400 batting average and three runs. Ashley Eliasson (1-1) carries a 3.09 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 11.1 innings.
Eastern Michigan
Feb. 22, 9:30 a.m.
Series Record: Eastern Michigan leads 2-1
Last Meeting: March 17, 2007. The teams split a doubleheader with the Eagles winning the first 3-2, and the Cards winning the second 3-2
About the Eagles: This will be the season opener for the Eagles who are coming off of a 15-30 2008 campaign. EMU returns Jenny Scherer, who was second on the team with a .312 batting average and blasted 11 home runs and had 20 RBI. Jaclyn Caro returns for her sophomore season after posting a 3.57 ERA with 83 strikeouts in 141.0 innings of work.
Softball Moves into Top 25 Rankings
The University of Louisville softball team is No. 22 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 and No. 25 in the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 poll.
This marks the first time the Cards have been in the top 25 since 2007 when they were No. 20/21 in the preseason polls. Louisville reached its highest ranking in 2006 when it was 17(NFCA) poll and 18 (USA Softball).
U of L has compiled a 9-1 record with two wins over top 25 opponents. The Cards opened the season with a 2-0 win over then-18/21 North Carolina in the FIU Combat Classic, and picked up a 3-2 win over then-18/21 Nevada in the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic on Feb. 14. Their only loss was a 3-2 decision to No. 5/6 Michigan on Feb. 13.
Bemis Named to BIG EAST Honor Roll
Sophomore third baseman batted .412 (7 for 17) on the weekend with three home runs and a double for a 1.000 slugging percentage. She drove in six runs and scored four as the Cards went 4-1 on the weekend with a win over No. 18/21 Utah. She homered against No. 5/6 Michigan, South Dakota State and Virginia. She currently leads the team with a .448 batting average, she also has four home runs, three doubles, nine RBI and seven runs on the season.
Up Last
Louisville continued its strong early season play at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic hosted by UNLV. The Cards opened the tournament with a 3-2 win over BYU, who had been receiving votes in the polls. They suffered their first loss of the season, a 3-2 decision to No. 5/6 Michigan. U of L rebounded with a 3-2 win over No. 18/21 Nevada on Saturday and scored a season-high 12 run in a 12-3, six inning win over South Dakota State. The Cards closed the weekend by edging Virginia 6-5 in eight innings.
Next Up
After three weeks on the road, the Cardinals will open up an 18-game homestand that will span from February 27-March 24. During that time, Louisville will host three tournaments, including: the Louisville Red and Black Tournament (Feb. 27-March 1), the University of Louisville Tournament (March 6-8) and the Courtyard by Marriott Airport Cardinal Tournament (March 13-15).
