University of Louisville
Kentucky
Softball Falls to No. 16/20 Kentucky
April 20, 2011 | Softball
April 20, 2011
LEXINGTON, Ky. - - Colby Wherry was 3-for-3 and the University of Louisville softball team scored seven runs in the first two innings, but it wasn't enough as No. 16/20 Kentucky defeated the visiting Cardinals 14-8 Wednesday evening.
"Tonight's game was a slugfest," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "This is a very good Kentucky team who came ready to play. Credit them for having a great offensive night."
The Wildcats (33-10) held a 12-11 edge in hits, but took advantage of nine walks and two errors to score seven unearned runs in the game.
The Cards (32-14) got on the scoreboard early when Katie Keller led off the game with a walk and Jennifer Esteban and Chelsea Bemis followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases for Wherry's sacrifice fly. Maggie Ruckenbrod's RBI single brought Esteban home. Alicja Wolny reached on a fielder's choice and Taner Fowler followed with a three-run double to increase the lead to 5-0. Hannah Kiyohara singled Fowler home to make the score 6-0.
Louisville tacked on another run in the second when Keller led off the frame with a hit and moved to third on Bemis' one-out single for Wherry's RBI single to increase the lead to 7-0.
The Wildcats threatened to score in the home half of the second. Emily Jolly registered a leadoff hit and Rachel Riley entered the game to run for her. Samantha DeMartine walked and Ellen Weaver drew a one-out walk to load the bases with one out. Starter Caralisa Connell got Annie Rowlands to hit into a fielder's choice which saw Riley out at the plate. Connell struck Yocke out to end the inning.
Kentucky used two hits, three walks and two errors to score eight runs, seven unearned, in the third. Aubrey Lamar led off with a single, Aull reached on an error and a walk to Brittany Cervantes loaded the bases for Riley's sacrifice fly to put the Wildcats on the scoreboard. Another error allowed DeMartine to reach and Alice O'Brien's base hit plated Aull. Bases-loaded walks to Lamar and Yocke scored two more runs and Kara Dill's three-run triple tied the score at 7-7. Aull came back around to deliver an RBI single to put the Wildcats up 8-7.
Lamar's one out homer in the fourth extended the lead to 9-7. Aull walked and scored on Cervantes' RBI single to make it a 10-7 game in the fifth.
In the sixth, Lamar delivered a two-run homer scored and Cervantes' two-out, two-run single made it a 14-7 game.
The Cardinals scored the final run in the seventh when Bemis drew a one-out walk. Wherry followed with a hit and an error on the play sent Bemis home for the 14-8 final.
Caralisa Connell (18-7) took the loss, giving up eight runs, one earned, on five hits and striking out four in 3.0 innings.
Riley (10-4) got the win, allowing one earned run on three hits and striking out four in 5.2 innings of relief. Riley also paced the Wildcats offensively, going 4-for-4 with three RBIs.
The Cardinals return to BIG EAST Conference play with a single game Thursday at Ulmer Stadium at 5 p.m. U of L will be celebrating Earth Day at Ulmer Stadium. The first 300 fans will receive free Tulip Poplars.
NOTES: UK's 14-8 win halted the Cardinals' eight-game winning streak against the Wildcats.
