University of Louisville
Purdue
Softball Concludes Season at NCAA Regional
May 16, 2009 | Softball
May 16, 2009
The No. 18/19 University of Louisville softball team put together a late inning rally, but it wasn't enough as Purdue held on to beat the host Cardinals 5-4 Saturday at Ulmer Stadium in an NCAA regional elimination game. Louisville concludes the season with a 48-11 overall record while Purdue (31-19) will face No. 6/7 Arizona (43-14) in the regional championship Sunday at 2 p.m. If Arizona wins, the Wildcats will advance to the Super Regional, if Purdue wins, the teams will meet again at 4 p.m. in a rematch to determine the double-elimination regional champion.
Purdue jumped on the Cardinals early with three runs in the first as an error and a single set up Candace Curtis' two-run single. Jenna Alexander's RBI hit plated Curtis. The Boilermakers added a run in the second inning when Liane Horiuchi was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on a single by Curtis.
The Cardinal bats awoke in the fourth when, with the bases loaded, Colby Wherry singled up the middle, scoring Melissa Roth and Kassie Stanfill to pull the Cards within two runs. With runners on the corners, pinch hitter Megan Hornback came up and hit a rope up the third base line that was fielded nicely by Curtis for the out to end the rally.
Horiuchi led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run to increase the lead to 5-2.
Louisville got two more runs back in the top of the fifth when senior Patrika Barlow drew a walk and then advanced to third on a single by Roth, who then stole second. Chelsea Bemis connected on a two-run single, but Purdue's Dana Alcocer got Cunningham to ground out for the final out of the inning.
With the score 5-4, Louisville reliever Tori Collins, who took the field in the third inning, held the Boilers scoreless in the final two innings but the Cardinals were retired in order as the comeback fell short.
The Boilermakers were led by third baseman Candace Curtis' two for four outing with three RBIs with pitcher Dana Alcocer picking up the win and improving her record to 5-7. Alcocer pitched a complete game allowing just four runs on four hits and striking out five.
Cardinal starter Kristen Wadwell (41-10) took the loss, giving up four runs on four hits in two innings of work. Roth was 1 for 3 with two runs.
Louisville, in its sixth consecutive NCAA Regional appearance, finishes its season at 48-11, the most wins in program history as well as tying the mark for fewest losses. The Cardinals' three senior starters, Stanfill, Cunningham and Barlow, were part of a prolific offense that set a school mark in runs scored with 316 and batted a school record .321 as a team.
Arizona 18- Louisville 4
In the first game of the day, Arizona's Stacie Chambers had two homers - including one grand slam-- for nine RBIs to lead the No. 6/7-ranked Arizona Wildcats to an 18-4 win over the University of Louisville in the second game of the 2009 NCAA Softball Tournament Saturday morning at Ulmer Stadium.
Arizona (43-14) has two wins in the double elimination format.
Cardinal pitcher Kristen Wadwell (41-9) gave up 17 hits, 18 runs, 12 earned, and struck out five in five innings for the loss. The Wildcats' 18 runs was a school record for runs allowed for the Cards. UA's pitcher, Sarah Akamine, gave up nine hits for four runs, two earned and struck out six to boost her record to 21-6.
U of L got on the board in the first inning by manufacturing a run. With two outs, Chelsea Bemis singled, advanced on a passed ball and then scored from second when Wildcat catcher Stacie Chambers missed the tag on a close play at the plate after a single by Kassie Stanfill. Arizona answered with two runs in the bottom of the second. Brittany Lestrapes led off with a single and advanced to second when K'Lee Arredondo singled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Chambers. Arredondo then scored on a single by Lini Koria.
The Cardinals scored with two outs again in the second when Vanessa James singled and then scored on a long double by Melissa Roth to knot the score at two.
Arizona hung a four spot in the second inning when Lauren Schutzler singled, advanced on an error and scored on a single by Lastrapes. With two runners on, Chambers jacked a homerun to right field.
The Wildcats tacked on a seven-run third inning, powered by a grand slam by Chambers to put the game out of reach for the Cardinals at 13-2.
Patrika Barlow scored in the top of the fourth for the Cardinals, after singling and advancing on a passed ball and scoring on a double by Melissa Roth.
A five-run fourth inning featured another grand slam by Sam Banister as the Wildcats increased their lead to 18-3.
Louisville's final run came in the fifth when Stanfill reached on a fielder's choice, moved to third on consecutive wild pitches and scored on Wherry's RBI single for the 18-4 final.
Arizona's Lastrapes posted a 4 for 4 outing with four runs and two RBIs. The Cardinals were led by Roth's 2 for 3 performance at the plate which included a double and two RBI.
