University of Louisville
Pittsburgh
Softball Downs Pitt 10-3 to Complete Series Sweep
April 10, 2011 | Softball
April 10, 2011
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - - Hannah Kiyohara went 4-for-4 with two RBIs and a run and Caralisa Connell notched her 11th straight win to lead the University of Louisville softball team to a 10-3 win over host Pittsburgh, completing a three-game sweep of the Panthers. The Cardinals (30-10) push their win streak to 11 games and are now 8-1 in BIG EAST Conference play. Pitt falls to 24-11 (3-3).
The Cards used four hits and two errors to take a 4-0 lead in the first. Jennifer Esteban led off the game with an infield single. Alicja Wolny connected on a one-out hit and Chelsea Bemis was intentionally walked to load the bases. Colby Wherry hit into a fielder's choice which saw Esteban out at the plate, but left the bases loaded for Maggie Ruckenbrod's RBI single. Bemis and Wherry crossed the plate when Kristin Austin reached on an error. A second Panther miscue sent Ruckenbrod home to give the Cards a 4-0 lead.
Pitt answered in the home half of the first, using three hits, two errors and a walk to get two runs back. Reba Tutt registered a leadoff double and took third on a third on a throwing error. Ashley Amistade's RBI single brought Tutt home. A hit by Holly Stevens and another error loaded the bases for Yvette Bravo who drew a walk to plate Amistade and cut the lead to 4-2. With the bases loaded and no outs, the Cards used a force out at home and turned a double play to end the inning.
Louisville extended its lead to 5-2 in the third when Kiyohara delivered a two-out single and moved around to third on an error. Esteban followed with an RBI double to score Kiyohara.
The Cards tacked on three more runs - all with two outs - in the sixth. Wherry singled and was lifted for pinch-runner Chrisanna Roberts. Austin and Taner Fowler walked to load the bases. Roberts came home on a passed ball and Kiyohara followed with a two-run single to make the score 8-2.
Bemis' two-run homer in the seventh increased the lead to 10-2. Alicja Wolny drew a leadoff walk and Katelyn Mann entered the game as pinch-runner. Bemis followed with a shot over right field for her team-leading seventh home run of the season.
Stevens led off the bottom of the seventh with a home run to make the score 10-3.
Connell (17-4) gave up three earned runs on eight hits and struck out three in her 11th straight complete game win. The Cards pounded out a season-high 16 hits on the day. Wolny finished 3-for-4 with a run. Esteban was 3-for-4 with an RBI.
Cory Berliner (7-4) took the loss, allowing five runs, one earned, on nine hits in 3.0 innings. Stevens and Niki Cognigni each had a pair of hits for the Panthers.
U of L is returns to Ulmer Stadium for a midweek BIG EAST Conference doubleheader against Connecticut Wednesday at noon.
