University of Louisville
Nevada
No. 14 Softball Tops Nevada 5-3
March 06, 2010 | Softball
March 6, 2010
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - - The 14th ranked University of Louisville softball team defeated Nevada 5-3 Saturday morning in the first game of the Preview featuring Bedlam Tournament at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium. U of L (14-3) will face No. 8/11 Oklahoma at 6:30 p.m. Saturday evening.
"For the first time in quite a few games, this is the first time I've seen us play aggressively offensively. Diving for the ball defensively, if this is the way we're going to achieve our goals, this is the way we need to play for the rest of the season."
The teams played through two scoreless innings before the Cardinals used six hits to break through with five runs in the third. Vanessa James started the frame with a leadoff double and took third on Melissa Roth's bunt single. Alicja Wolny followed with an RBI single. Chelsea Bemis doubled, scoring Roth and placing runners on second and third for Colby Wherry's base hit. Jennifer Esteban's hit plated Bemis and Wherry came around to score on Jordan Trimble's groundout to make it a 5-0 game.
The Wolfpack scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth when walks were issued to Britton Murdock, Kelsey Starr and Chelsea Barilli. An illegal pitch moved the runners again, putting Nevada on the scoreboard. The runners advanced on a wild pitch, sending Starr home and Barilli scored on another illegal pitch to make it a 5-3 game.
Nevada threatened to score again in the bottom of the seventh when Sam Bias and Murdock walked. Starr's fielder's choice saw Murdock out at second but placed runners on the corners with two outs. Murdock was caught off of first base while the ball was in the circle for the final out of the game.
Louisville starter Tori Collins (4-1) did not give up a run, scattered three hits and struck out four in 5.2 innings of work. Roth and Wherry each had a pair of hits in the game.
Mallory Darby (4-4) took the loss, allowing five earned runs on eight hits and striking out two in 2.1 innings. Nevada drops to 6-8 on the season.
U of L (14-3) will face No. 8/11 Oklahoma at 6:30 p.m. Saturday evening.
