University of Louisville
Houston
No. 21/22 Softball Defeats Houston 7-2
February 13, 2010 | Softball
Feb. 13, 2010
Sophomore Tori Collins registered a career-high 11 strikeouts as the No. 21/22 University of Louisville softball team defeated host Houston 7-2 Saturday night in the Marriott Houston Hobby Classic. The Cards (4-0) beat No. 15/17 Baylor 6-5 earlier in the day.
The Cards jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first. Jennifer Esteban led off the game with a walk, stole second, moved to third on Melissa Roth's groundout and came home on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Brittany York. Colby Wherry followed with a solo home run over the left field fence.
Melissa Roth's two run homer increased the lead to 4-0. Jennifer Esteban led off the third with a single to set up Roth's shot over the centerfield fence.
Houston got on the scoreboard in the fifth when Melissa Gregson delivered a one-out hit. Jennifer Klinkert and Holly Anderson walked to load the bases. Angela Spittler followed with another walk to send Gregson home and make the score 4-1.
Louisville manufactured two more runs in the sixth when Vanessa James reached on a fielder's choice, took second on a wild pitch, stole third when Kristin Austin drew a walk and then came home on a double steal that sent Austin all the way to third on the play at home. Jordan Trimble's infield single plated Austin to make it a 6-1 game.
In the top of the seventh, James delivered a bases loaded single to score Melissa Roth who started the inning with a double.
The Cougars added a run in the bottom of the seventh when Bailey Watts walked and eventually came around to score on a Cardinal error for the 7-2 final.
Collins (1-0) picked up the win, allowing one unearned run on three hits and striking out a career-high 11 batters in 6.2 innings. Roth paced the Cards offensively, going 3 for 4 with two runs and two RBI.
Watts (1-1) took the loss for the Cougars (1-1), allowing seven earned runs on nine hits and striking out six in seven innings.
U of L will close the tournament against No. 14 Ohio State Sunday at 10 a.m. (Eastern).
