Softball Opens Fall Season with Doubleheader Sweep of Bellarmine
September 25, 2010 | Softball
Sept. 25, 2010
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -
The University of Louisville softball team opened the fall season with two shutout wins over Bellarmine Saturday at Ulmer Stadium. Sophomore Jennifer Esteban and freshman Taner Fowler led the way with three hits apiece and junior Tori Collins had 13 strikeouts as the Cards prevailed 4-0 and 1-0.
"We saw a lot of good things from our defense and our pitchers today," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "I was disappointed with our offensive production, because I didn't feel we made the adjustments we needed to make as the game progressed. We'll take what we've learned today to improve throughout the fall."
In the opening game, the Cards took a 1-0 lead in the third when sophomore Jordan Trimble delivered a leadoff triple and scored on Katelyn Mann's single.
Louisville added a pair of runs on the fourth. Fowler doubled and took second on Chelsea Jordan's base hit. Freshman Maggie Ruckenbrod's sacrifice fly plated Fowler and Jordan came home on junior Tesha Paysen's sacrifice fly to make it a 3-0 game.
Fowler connected on a leadoff home run in the sixth for the 4-0 final. She finished the game batting 2 for 2 with two runs and an RBI. Esteban was also 2 for 2.
Collins got the starting nod in the circle and struck out six while retiring all nine batters she faced in three innings of work. Freshman Caralisa Connell surrendered only one hit and struck out four to hold the Knights scoreless in four innings of relief.
Bellarmine's Casey Willard allowed four earned runs on nine hits in the loss. Megan Murdoch singled for the Knights in the fifth.
Game two featured a pitcher's duel through six scoreless innings. In the bottom of the seventh, Fowler registered a one-out single and Esteban entered the game to run. After senior Colby Wherry grounded out, junior Kristin Austin delivered an RBI single for the game-winner.
Connell started the game and held Bellarmine to one hit while striking out three in two innings. Collins gave up two hits and fanned seven in five innings of relief.
Kaitlin Flak took the loss, allowing one run on two hits in 1.2 innings.
