University of Louisville
Arizona
No. 2 Arizona Defeats No. 24 Softball Cards 11-3
March 18, 2010 | Softball
March 18, 2010
FULLERTON, Calif. - - The No. 23/24 University of Louisville softball team fell to No. 2 Arizona 11-3 in the first game of the Judy Garmen Classic Thursday morning. Arizona improves to 23-1 while Louisville drops to 15-9 after facing a top 10 opponent for fifth time this season.
"I was pleased with our offense today," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "We were aggressive and made good contact with the ball. I also thought Tori did a great job until she wore down in the seventh inning and we lost focus on our defense."
The Wildcats immediately jumped to a 1-0 lead with Brittany Lastrapes' leadoff home run. Lauren Schutzler and K'Lee Arredondo walked to set up Stacie Chamber's three-run homer.
Melissa Roth led off the home half of the first with her sixth home run of the season to make it a 4-1 game. Vanessa James reached on a three-base error and scored on Alicja Wolny's groundout to cut the lead to 4-2.
Lini Koria opened the third inning with a homer over the centerfield fence to increase the lead to 5-2.
The Cards threatened in the home half of the third when Jordan Trimble and Kristin Austin singled and advanced on James' to place two runners in scoring position but Arizona's Sarah Akamine retired Wolny to end the inning.
Louisville added a run in the fourth when Chelsea Bemis singled and Tori Collins reached on an error. Bemis came around to score on Jordan Trimble's single down the left field line to make it a 5-3 game.
Arizona had another scoring opportunity in the fifth when Koria singled, Baillie Kirker walked and Karissa Buchanan's base hit loaded the bases with one out. Collins got Lastrapes to pop up to shortstop Colby Wherry for the second out and Schutzler grounded out to first baseman Alicja Wolny to end the inning.
With the score 5-3, the Cards had another scoring opportunity in the fifth when hits by Wolny and Wherry placed runners on the corners, but reliever Kenzie Fowler retired Chelsea Bemis to stave off the threat.
The Wildcats added another run in the top of the sixth when Brigette Del Ponte singled and was called safe on a close play at the plate on Koria's double to increase the lead to 6-3.
Arizona used two hits, two walks and two errors to put up five runs in the top of the seventh. A hit, a walk and an error loaded the bases for Schutzler's two run single. A walk to K'Lee Arredondo loaded the bases and a Cardinal error sent Lastrapes home. A wild pitch scored Schutzler. Koria added a sacrifice fly to make the score 11-3.
Louisville starter Chelsea Leonard (4-2) took the loss, allowing two earned runs to start the game. Collins surrendered nine runs, seven earned and struck out five in six innings. Trimble and Roth each had a pair of hits.
Akamine (8-1) got the win, allowing three runs, one earned, on five hits in four innings. Kenzie Fowler picked up he first save, holding the Cardinals scoreless on three hits and striking out seven in 3.0 innings of relief. Koria was 3 for 4 with three RBI while Chambers was 1 for 3 with four RBI.
U of L will travel to California-Northridge for a 3 p.m. game Thursday.
