University of Louisville
PROVIDENCE
Softball Downs Providence
April 21, 2011 | Softball
April 21, 2011
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Junior Tori Collins struck out seven and scattered four hits in her eighth complete game shutout as the University of Louisville softball team downed Providence 4-0 Thursday night at Ulmer Stadium. Louisville (33-14, 11-4) and the Friars (20-26, 4-11) will meet in a doubleheader at 11 a.m. Saturday as the Cards wrap up the home season.
"Tori Collins pitched well for us tonight and we were able to take advantage of some timely hits," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "We also had some very nice defensive plays, including a diving catch by Hannah Kiyohara to open the fourth."
The Friars' best chance to score came in the top of the third inning. A fielding error placed a runner on and back-to-back singles by Megan McCann and Jen Abrams loaded the bases. With only one out, Collins was able to battle back with a strikeout and a foul out to get out of the jam.
After stranding runners in scoring position in the first two innings, the Cardinals finally broke through with two runs in the fourth. Wolny delivered a leadoff single, Ruckenbrod followed with a double off the centerfield fence and Taner Fowler was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Hannah Kiyohara singled into right field to score the first run of the day. Katie Keller followed with a sacrifice fly that plated Ruckenbrod to give Louisville a 2-0 lead.
Louisville added to the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Fowler led off with a single. Pinch runner Chelsea Jordan stole second base and took third on a throwing error. Keller's RBI hit brought Jordan home. Bemis doubled off the centerfield wall to score Keller and give the Cardinals a 4-0 advantage.
A walk and a single put two runners on for Providence in the seventh inning but Tori Collins notched her seventh strikeout of the day to end the game and preserve the shutout.
Collins (11-4) scattered four hits and struck out seven in her first start and complete game since March 23. Ruckenbrod was 3-for-3 with a double and a run and Katie Keller drove in two runs to pace the Cards offensively.
Corinne Clauss (8-12) took the loss, allowing four earned runs on 11 hits and striking out three in 6.0 innings. Jen Abrams led the Friars offensively with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate.
