University of Louisville
CONNECTICUT
Softball Splits Doubleheader with Connecticut
April 13, 2011 | Softball
April 13, 2011
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Freshman Caralisa Connell struck out 20 on the day and junior Kristin Austin had four hits, as the University of Louisville softball team split a doubleheader with visiting Connecticut Wednesday afternoon at Ulmer Stadium. The Cards (31-11, 9-2 BIG EAST) won the first game 2-1 and the Huskies (16-17, 4-3) took the second game 5-1 to halt Louisville's winning streak at 12 games.
"Connecticut came to play today and did a great job of keeping us off balance," said coach Sandy Pearsall. "We didn't do a lot of things well today - we didn't create much offense and we made mistakes defensively. The only bright side was Caralisa Connell, who shows up every day and pitches a great game."
Louisville 2 - Connecticut 1
In the opener, Connell delivered a career high 14 strikeouts and sophomore Jennifer Esteban scored once and drove in the winning run as the Cards defeated the Huskies 2-1 to push their win streak to 12 games.
Louisville took control in the first inning when Esteban reached on a two-base error. Katie Keller's sacrifice bunt moved Esteban to third and she scored on a double by Chelsea Bemis. The two-out hit by Bemis tied her for first on the all-time career RBI list with 174.
The Huskies quickly responded in the top of the second when Kim Silva led off the inning with a homerun to tie the game at 1-1.
The teams played through four more scoreless innings before the Cards struck again in the bottom of the seventh. Freshman Taner Fowler reached on a two-base error and was lifted for pinch runner Chelsea Jordan. Freshman Hannah Kiyohara singled to place runners on first and third for Esteban, whose RBI hit scored Jordan for the game winner.
Connell (18-5) registered her twelfth straight complete game victory, scattering five hits and striking out 14. Freshman Maggie Ruckenbrod was 2-for-3 to lead the Cardinals at the plate.
Kiki Saveriano (8-12) took the loss for UConn. She gave up ten hits and struck out six batters.
Connecticut 5 - Louisville 1
In game two, UConn scored four runs, three unearned, in the fourth inning and the Cardinals stranded nine runners as the Huskies dealt the Cards a 5-1 loss, ending their win streak at 12 games
U of L got on the scoreboard in the first inning when Keller registered a one-out single, stole second and crossed the plate on a two-out error to give Louisville a 1-0 lead.
The Huskies responded with four runs in the fourth. Andrea Huelsenbeck reached and moved to second on an error. Kim Silva's bunt placed runners on the corners. Amy Vaughan's RBI single plated Huelsenbeck. Silva came home on Marissa Guches' groundout and Julie Towers connected on a two-run hit to give UConn a 4-1 lead.
The Cardinals had a chance to score in the home half of the fourth. Taner Fowler singled Hannah Kiyohara's double placed two runners in scoring position with one out. A strikeout and a fly out ended the inning.
Connecticut tacked on the final run in the top of the seventh when Guches drew a lead off walk and Towers followed with a base hit. Two outs later Andrea Huelsenbeck's RBI single gave the Huskies their 5-1 advantage.
Connell (18-5) took the loss, giving up five runs, two earned, on six hits and struck out six in seven innings for the complete game effort. Austin was 3-for-3 to lead the Cardinals at the plate and senior Colby Wherry was 2-for-4.
Savariano (9-12) got the win, allowing one unearned run on eight hits and striking out five in seven innings. Towers led the Huskies, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs.
Louisville (31-11, 9-2) will continue BIG EAST play when they travel to No. 24 Notre Dame for a three game series April 16-17.
