University of Louisville
UTSA
Softball Outlasts UT-San Antonio 7-3 in 10 Innings
February 20, 2011 | Softball
Feb. 20, 2011
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - - The University of Louisville softball team scored four runs in the tenth inning to beat UT-San Antonio 7-3 Sunday at the `Bama Bash.
The Cards took an early lead when Hannah Kiyohara reached on a fielder's choice, moved around to third on two wild pitches and came home on Jennifer Esteban's RBI single.
Molly Fichtner's leadoff homer in the home half of the inning tied the game at 1-1.
Louisville regained the lead in the top of the fourth when Colby Wherry led off the frame with a double, took third on Taner Fowler's sacrifice bunt and Maggie Ruckenbrod's RBI single made the score 2-1.
In the bottom of the fourth, two hits and a walk loaded the bases for UTSA. Nikki Goff's base hit scored Fichtner to tie the game at 2-2.
Ashley Kappler blasted a one-out homer in the bottom of the fifth to put the Roadrunners up 3-2.
The Cards answered in the top of the seventh. Maggie Ruckenbrod led off with a single. Pinch runner Tesha Paysen took second on Jordan Trimble's sacrifice bunt and took third on Esteban's base hit. Katie Keller's single plated Paysen to tie the game at 3-3.
Louisville had a chance to score in the top of the eighth when Chelsea Bemis singled and Wherry followed with a walk. Taner Fowler's groundout moved the runners, but the Cards could not capitalize.
The Cardinals finally broke through with four runs in the top of the tenth. Chelsea Bemis' double scored Jordan Trimble who started the inning at second because of the international tiebreak rule. An error on Wherry's sacrifice bunt set up Ruckenbrod's two-run single. Wherry crossed the plate on Hannah Kiyohara's single to complete the scoring at 7-3.
Tori Collins (3-3) got the win, allowing one earned run on three hits and striking out five in 6.2 innings of relief. Esteban led the Cards offensively with a 4-for-5, two RBI performance at the plate. Kiyohara was 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Keller, Bemis, Ruckenbrod also had two hits.
Haylee Staton (1-3) took the loss, giving up five runs, only one earned, on nine hits and striking out two in six innings. Kristin Kappler was 2-for-4 to lead the Roadrunners. UTSA drops to 2-8 on the season.
Esteban and Bemis were named to the `Bama Bash All-Tournament team.
U of L (5-5) will return to action in its home-opening Red & Black Tournament Feb. 25-27. The Cards will face SIU-Edwardsville and Boston University on Feb. 25 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. respectively.
