University of Louisville
Cal State Northridge
Softball Defeats Cal State Northridge 4-1
March 18, 2011 | Softball
March 18, 2011
SAN DIEGO - - Colby Wherry went 3-for-4 and Caralisa Connell and Tori Collins combined for a two-hitter as the University of Louisville softball team defeated Cal State Northridge 4-1 Friday in the opening game of the San Diego Classic II. The Cards (15-8) will take on host San Diego State Friday evening at 7 p.m.
"We started and finished the game really well," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "We just need to continue to apply pressure throughout the game. I thought Tori Collins did a great job coming into the game in the last two innings and held them in check."
The Cards struck early with two runs in the first. Katie Keller delivered a leadoff double to start the game and took third on Jennifer Esteban's infield single. Esteban stole second and Chelsea Bemis followed with a two-run double.
The Matadors had a chance to push a run across in the home half of the first. Back-to-back walks were issued to Samantha Sloniker and Jaci Carlsen to start the inning. Both runners moved on Madeline Sale's groundout. Tracy Allen sent a grounder to Cardinal shortstop Colby Wherry who fielded the ball and threw to catcher Taner Fowler who was waiting to take Sloniker out at the plate.
Northridge got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third when Jennifer Mozier led off with a sun-aided triple and scored when Sale reached on a fielder's choice to make the score 2-1.
Louisville added a pair of insurance runs in top of the seventh. Bemis drew a one-out walk and was lifted for pinch-runner Tesha Paysen who came around to score on Alicja Wolny's double. Wherry followed with an RBI double to make the score 4-1.
Connell (6-2) got the win, allowing one earned run on two hits and striking out four in five innings. Collins did not allow a hit and struck out three in two innings to earn her second save of the season.
The Cards outhit the Matadors 10-2. In addition to Wherry's three-hit performance, Esteban was 2-for-4 with a run and two stolen bases while Bemis was 1-for-2 with a double and two RBI.
Hannah Fraijo (7-3) was tagged with the loss after allowing two earned runs on six hits in two innings. The Matadors drop to 10-13 on the season.
