University of Louisville
Virginia
Softball Falls to Virginia 1-0 in NCAA Regional
May 21, 2010 | Softball
May 21, 2010
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - - The University of Louisville softball team fell 1-0 to Virginia Friday in the first round of regional play at Tennessee's Lee Stadium. The Cardinals (39-18) will face the loser of the Tennessee/Ball State game Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
"It was a tight game and both pitchers threw well," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "We just didn't capitalize when we had runners in scoring position and they did - that made the difference."
Kristin Austin's two hits paced the Cards, who had four hits and stranded 10 runners in the game. Tori Collins (17-5) took the loss, allowing one earned run on three hits and striking out five in six innings of work.
Virginia had a chance to score in the third when Taylor Williams delivered a one-out single, stole second and moved to third on a groundout. Lauren McCaskey followed with a sharply hit ball that appeared to be falling for a single, but centerfielder Kristin Austin's diving catch took away the hit and ended the inning.
Louisville had a scoring opportunity of its own in the third when Austin led off with a double and moved to third on Vanessa James' sacrifice bunt. Melissa Roth walked to place runners on the corners with one out, but Virginia starter Melanie Mitchell struck out Jennifer Esteban and got Chelsea Bemis to ground out to preserve the shutout.
After playing through four scoreless innings, the Cavaliers got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth when Alison Pittman connected on a leadoff triple and was safe at the plate on Abby Snyder's fielder's choice to make it a 1-0 game.
The Cards had runners in scoring position in the fifth and sixth, but could not capitalize. Katelyn Mann led off the fifth with a single Roth was walked to place two runners on with two outs. Mitchell got Jennifer Esteban to ground out the end the inning. In the sixth, Bemis was walked to start the inning. Colby Wherry's sacrifice bunt sent her to second and Alicja Wolny walked to put two on with one out. Jordan Trimble fired a shot to right field, but Virginia's Sarah Tacke caught up with it for the second out. Mitchell delivered a strikeout to Mann to send the game into the seventh.
Virginia had a chance to add to the lead in the when Williams registered a two-out triple, but starter Tori Collins, who had re-entered the game in the seventh after being spelled by reliever Kristen Wadwell for an inning, struck out Alex Skinkis.
Louisville's best chance to score came in the bottom of the seventh when Austin led off with a single and took second on James' third sacrifice bunt of the game. Roth was walked for the third time to put two runners on for pinch-hitter Brittany York who struck out for the second out of the inning to bring up Bemis. A walk to her loaded the bases for Colby Wherry who lined out to Mitchell to end the game.
Mitchell (27-16) went the distance to get the shutout win, surrendering four hits and striking out six. Williams was 2 for 3 to lead the Cavaliers (34-21) offensively.
Note: This is the third time the Cardinals have played in the Knoxville regional... and also the third time they have lost the opening game 1-0 to a team from the state of Virginia. In 2008, the Cards fell to Virginia Tech 1-0 in 10 innings and finished the regional with a 1-2 record. In 2006, they lost to Virginia Tech in 12 innings and won their next two games to reach the regional final where they fell to host Tennessee.
