University of Louisville
SAINT LOUIS
No. 15/17 Softball Tops Billikens 5-3
February 27, 2010 | Softball
Feb. 27, 2010
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - - Senior Vanessa James went 3 for 4 to help lead the No. 15/17 University of Louisville softball team to a 5-3 win over Saint Louis Saturday in the Cardinal Classic. U of L (12-2) will close out the weekend against Northern Illinois Sunday at 1 p.m. at Ulmer Stadium.
Saint Louis jumped on the scoreboard in the top of the first when Jessica Buschjost singled, took second on Kelly Flanagan's fielder's choice and stole third - an error on the throw gave the Billikens a 1-0 lead. A double by Liz Jones plated Flanagan to give Saint Louis a 2-0 lead.
The Cards responded with three runs in the home half of the inning. Vanessa James connected on a two-out single and scored when Chelsea Bemis reached on a three-base error. Alicja Wolny registered an RBI single and eventually came home on a bases-loaded walk to make it a 3-2 game.
Melissa Roth's two-run homer in the second gave the Cards a 5-2 lead. Jennifer Esteban led off with a single to set up Roth's shot over the center field fence.
The Billikens threatened to score in the third when Kristin Nicoletti singled, Buschjost reached on an error and Nicki Jost walked to load the bases with no outs. Louisville starter Kristen Wadwell got Flanagan to hit into a fielder's choice that saw Nicoletti out at the plate, struck out Jones and retired Laura Bohning to get out of the jam.
The Cards also had a chance to push more runs across when they had bases loaded with one out in the fourth, but SLU starting pitcher Kelcie Matesa struck out Wolny and Trimble to end the inning.
Saint Louis added a run and threatened a rally in the seventh. Brittney Schmidt doubled, Caitlin Trevillyan was hit by a pitch and an error on Nicoletti's fielder's choice loaded the bases with one out. A wild pitch scored Schmidt and put the tying run in scoring position, but Louisville reliever Tori Collins got Buschjost to foul out and struck out Jost to end the game at 5-3.
Collins (4-1) got the win for the Cardinals, allowing one unearned run on two hits and striking out five in four innings of relief.
Matesa (1-2) took the loss, giving up five runs, only two earned, on seven hits and striking out eight in six innings. Nicoletti was 2 for 4 to lead the Billikens at the plate. Saint Louis drops to 4-4 on the season.
U of L (12-2) will wrap up the weekend against Northern Illinois Sunday at 1 p.m. at Ulmer Stadium.
