University of Louisville
WESTERN KENTUCKY
Softball defeats Western Kentucky, falls to No. 5/6 Michigan on final day of Louisville Softball Classic
March 13, 2011 | Softball
March 13, 2011
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville softball team split a pair of games, falling to No. 5/6 Michigan 2-0 and defeating Western Kentucky 6-2 on the final day of the Louisville Softball Classic Sunday.
"Obviously, the team and staff are disappointed with the loss to Michigan," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "We had opportunities to score, but were not consistent in our offense or defense. On the bright side, we rebounded with a good win over Western Kentucky. We came out aggressively and stayed focused. I'm proud of both of our pitchers who were consistent, which is what we need from them."
In the game against Michigan (25-1) sophomore Alicja Wolny went 2-for-3, but the Wolverines shut out the Cardinals for the first time this season en route to a 2-0 victory.
Louisville had an early chance to score. In the first inning, Chelsea Bemis was hit by a pitch and Wolny singled. A wild pitch moved the runners but Michigan's Stephanie Speierman dealt a strikeout to end the inning.
The Cards threatened to score again in the third when Katie Keller walked and Bemis doubled to get both runners into scoring position, but the Wolverines retired the next two batters to get out of the inning.
Louisville had another chance to score in the fourth as Tesha Paysen reached on an error and Taner Fowler doubled to center field. Hannah Kiyohara flied out to left field, but Paysen was out at the plate for the third out of the inning.
Michigan broke through a scoreless tie in the fifth. Caitlin Blanchard singled up the middle and was lifted for pinch-runner Jaclyn Crummey who stole second and third. Lyndsay Doyle singled to drive in Crummey for a 1-0 lead.
The Cards continued to pressure the Wolverines in the sixth with a leadoff single from Bemis. Pinch-runner Kristen Austin stole second. Wherry's base hit placed runners at first and third with no outs. Michigan's Jordan Taylor entered the game and retired the next three batters to preserve the shutout.
The Wolverines added a run in the seventh as a leadoff triple from Lane and a sacrifice fly by Blanchard gave Michigan a 2-0 advantage.
Louisville fought all the way to the last out with a chance to tie the game. Keller connected on a two-out double in the seventh. Bemis followed with a shot to the left field fence, but Michigan's Nicole Sappingfield was there for the final out.
Tori Collins (8-5) took the loss, allowing two earned runs on five hits and striking out four batters.
Stephanie Speierman (12-0) got the win, holding the Cards scoreless on five hits and striking out four batters in 5.0 innings. Taylor finished the shutout, allowing one hit en route to her fourth save.
Against Western Kentucky, Chelsea Bemis' went 2-for-3 with a grand slam and scored two runs to lead the Cards to a 6-2 win.
The Cards took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Katie Keller led off with a double and Chelsea Bemis singled to place runners on the corners for Alicja Wolny's two-run double.
The Hilltoppers answered in the top of the second when Amanda Thomas led off with an infield single and was lifted for pinch runner Tiffany Gooch who took second Mallorie Sulaski's sacrifice bunt. Kim Wagner's two-out single scored Gooch to make it a 2-1 game. Amanda Walden's base hit loaded the bases for Brittney Perry's game-tying RBI single.
The Cards regained the lead behind Bemis' grand slam in the home half of the inning. Hannah Kiyohara walked, Keller reached on a fielder's choice, and Jennifer Esteban's singled to load the bases for Bemis, who powered a shot over the left field fence for her fourth home run of the season and her second career grand slam.
WKU threatened to cut into the lead in the fifth. Perry singled, Laura Smith was hit by a pitch and Amanda Thomas reached on a fielder's choice to place runners on the corners with two outs. Louisville's Connell got Sulaski to hit into a fielder's choice to end the inning.
Connell (5-2) got the complete game win, allowing two earned runs on eight hits and striking out five. Ruckenbrod was 2-for-3 and Keller was 1-for-4 with a double and two runs.
WKU starter Kim Wagner (6-4) took the loss, giving up six earned runs on six hits in 1.1 innings of work. Walden and Perry had two hits apiece for the Hilltoppers (14-8).
U of L (14-8) will travel to San Diego for the San Diego Classic II March 18-20.
