U of L Softball Set for `Bama Bash
February 16, 2011 | Softball
Feb. 16, 2011
Complete Game Notes in PDF Format 
The University of Louisville softball team will travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala. for the 2011 `Bama Bash Feb. 18-20. The Cards (3-2) will open the tournament against Syracuse (4-0) in a non-conference matchup Thursday. Following that game, Louisville will face No. 3/7 host Alabama. Friday's action will feature UT-San Antonioand the Crimson Tide. The Cards will conclude the tournament against UTSA Sunday at 11 a.m.
Louisville at `Bama Bash
Friday, Feb 18
vs. Syracuse - 1 p.m.
@ Alabama - 4 p.m.
Saturday, Feb 19
vs. UTSA - 11 a.m.
@Alabama - 4 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 20
vs.UTSA - 11 a.m.
About Louisville
The Cardinals enter the `Bama Bash with a 3-2 record following a runner-up finish at the Texas Classic in their opening weekend. Louisville picked up wins against Northern Illinois and pair of victories over Tulsa, but fell twice to No. 15 Texas.
Sophomore first baseman Alicja Wolny leads the Cardinal offense with a .538 average, two doubles a home run and four RBI. Sophomore center fielder Jordan Trimble follows at .500 with four runs and two doubles. Senior Colby Wherry and sophomore Jennifer Esteban round out the top four with a .357 average.
Junior Tori Collins (1-1, 4.72 ERA) and freshman Caralisa Connell (1-0, 3.11 ERA) have combine for 15 strikeouts, one shutout and two saves in 22.1 innings of work.
Cards Against the Field
Syracuse
Series Record: Louisville leads 10-2
Last Meeting: May 15, 2010 - Syracuse defeated Louisville 2-1 in the finals of the BIG EAST Conference Championship at Ulmer Stadium.
Scouting the Orange: This will be a non-conference matchup for the Cards and the Orange. The teams will meet again May 7-8 at Syracuse in the regular season finale.
At 4-0, Syracuse is off to its best start in program history. In their opening weekend, the Orange won the Georgia State Tournament with victories over Tennessee Tech, Morehead State and Georgia State while outscoring opponents 33-3.
Veronica Grant least Syracuse at the plate with a .455 average, seven runs and five stolen bases. Lisaira Daniels follows at .429 with five runs and two RBI.
Jenna Caira (4-0) carries a 0.78 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 23.0 innings of work.
Alabama
Series Record: Alabama leads 2-0 Last Meeting: Feb. 13, 2000- Alabama won 7-6 at the Metrodome Classic. Scouting the Crimson Tide: Alabama enters the weekend at No. 3 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll and No. 7 in the USA Today/NFCA coaches poll. The Tide (5-0) won the 2011 Easton All-Alabama Classic in its opening weekend, posting victories over Samford, Alabama A&M, Jacksonville State, South Alabama and Troy, while outscoring opponents 47-1.
Kayla Braud leads Alabama with a .667 average, 10 runs and 12 stolen bases. Jennifer Fenton is batting .556 with a team-best two home runs and 11 RBI.
Kelsi Dunne, Jackie Traina and Lauren Sewell have combined for a 0.00 ERA, five wins, 44 strikeouts and four shutouts in 30.0 innings.
UT-San Antonio
Series Record: First meeting
Scouting the Roadrunners: UTSA brings a 2-3 record into the weekend. The Roadrunners opened the season with an 11-10 win over No. 24 Illinois and a 3-2 victory over McNeese State, but suffered losses to Baylor, Illnois and McNeese State to close the weekend.
Molly Fichner leads UTSA with a .500 batting average and six RBI. Danye Holmes, Katy Akins, Morgan Luksa, Haylee Staton and Emily Humpei have combined for a 4.94 ERA with 16 Ks in 34.0 innings.
Cardinal Quick Hits
• Senior shortstop Colby Wherry has had a hit in each of the Cardinals five games and is on an eight-game hitting streak dating back to 2010.
• Sophomore Alicja Wolny has had a hit in the past four games and has has two hits in three of those four games.
Cards Finish Runner-up in Texas Classic
The Cardinals opened the 2011 season at the Texas Classic where they went 3-2 on the weekend. Louisville fell to No. 15 Texas 6-2, but went on to beat Northern Illinois 6-1 and Tulsa 4-1 and 5-0 to advance to the tournament finals where the face the host Longhorns and lost 14-4.
Sophomore first baseman Alicja Wolny led the team offensively on the week, batting .538 (7-for-13) with two doubles and a home run. She chipped in two runs and drove in four runs.
