University of Louisville
Pittsburgh
Softball Completes Sweep of Pittsburgh with 6-5 win
April 10, 2009 | Softball
April 10, 2009
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - - The No. 15/18 University of Louisville softball team defeated host Pittsburgh 6-5 to complete a doubleheader sweep Friday afternoon. The Cardinals improve to 36-5 (12-2 BIG EAST) while Pitt drops to 15-20 (3-11).
After rain delayed the start of the game for over an hour, the Cards struck early with a run in the first. Melissa Roth led off with a hit, took second on Kristin Austin's sacrifice bunt and crossed the plate on Colby Wherry's RBI single.
Kristi Cunningham led off the second with a solo shot over centerfield to increase the lead to 2-0. The senior is now tied for second on the school's all-time list with 27 career homers.
The Panthers responded in the home half of the second with Ciera Damon's two-run homer. Amanda Heitmeier registered a one-out infield single and was lifted for pinch-runner Katelyn West to set up Damon's shot to tie the game at 2-2.
The Cards quickly regained the lead with Roth's solo home run to lead off the third. Roth connected on her third homer of the day and team-leading 11th of the season when she sent a shot over centerfield.
Pitt answered again with Niki Cognigni's one-out solo shot in the home half of the third to tie the game at 3-3.
Louisville took advantage of two errors and two hits to score three unearned runs in the seventh. Colby Wherry and Kassie Stanfill reached on back-to-back errors and Cunningham walked to load the bases. Christina Roesel sent a grounder to third base and beat the throw as pinch-runner Patrika Barlow crossed the plate to give the Cards a 4-3 lead. Vanessa James delivered a two-run single to increase the lead to 6-3.
The Panthers attempted a comeback again in the bottom of the seventh, but fell short, leaving the tying run in scoring position as the Cards held on for a 6-5 win. Alicia Broudy led off the inning with a double and scored on Cognigni's double to make the score 6-4. A Cardinal error sent Cognini home to pull Pitt within a run. Sam Card walked to place the tying run in scoring position. U of L pitcher Kristen Wadwell got Amanda Heitmeier to ground out to third base to end the game.
Wadwell (30-5) picked up her second win of the day and tied the school record for single season victories. In the game, she allowed five runs, four earned, on six hits and struck out four. Cunningham was 3 for 3 with two runs and an RBI. Roth was 2 for 2 with two runs and an RBI. Wherry and James also had two hits in the game.
Alyssa O'Connell (8-3) took the loss, allowing six runs, three earned, on eight hits and striking out two. Cognigni was 2 for 4 with two runs and two RBI.
Louisville is back in action on Tuesday, April 14 when Middle Tennessee visits Ulmer Stadium for a single game at 5 p.m.
