University of Louisville
Syracuse
Softball Stumbles at Syracuse
May 07, 2011 | Softball
May 7, 2011
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - - The University of Louisville softball team dropped a BIG EAST Conference doubleheader, falling 3-0 and 9-5 to host Syracuse Saturday afternoon. The Cards (34-16, 12-6) and the Orange (40-11, 14-5) will meet in a single game Sunday at 11 a.m.
In game one, Tori Collins struck out eight, and the Cards outhit the Orange 5-3,but it wasn't enough as the Cardinals suffered their second shutout of the season and first since March 13.
Stephanie Watts led off the bottom of the first with an infield single, stole second and moved to third on an error. Two outs later, Hallie Gibbs was intentionally walked and Kelly Saco was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Rachel Helman drew a walk to bring Watts home.
The Orange had another runner in scoring position in the second when Morgan Nandin led off with a single, took second on Veronica Grant's sacrifice bunt and moved to third in a passed ball with one out in the inning. Tori Collins struck out the next two batters to get out of the inning.
Syracuse added a pair of runs in the fourth when Nandin drew a two-out walk to set up Veronica Grant's two-run shot over left field to make the score 3-0.
The Cards had a chance to score in the sixth when Katie Keller connected on a single and Jennifer Esteban beat the throw for an infield single to place two runners on with one out in the inning. Syracuse starter Jenna Caira retired the next two batters to preserve the shutout.
Louisville's best scoring opportunity came in the top of the seventh. Alicja Wolny and Jennifer Esteban delivered back-to-back singles and Taner Fowler was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Caira retired the next two batters to get the win.
Collins (14-7) took the loss, allowing three earned runs on three hits and striking out eight in 7-0 innings.
Caira (29-9) picked up the shutout win, striking out 10 and scattering five hits.
In game two, Chelsea Bemis registered her ninth home run of the season and Colby Wherry went 2-for-3 with a run as the Cards took an early 4-0 lead, but the Orange stormed back to win 9-5.
The Cards scored four runs in the first, sparked by Bemis' three-run homer. Keller led off the game with a walk and stole second. Esteban followed with an infield single to place runners on the corners for Bemis' team-leading ninth homer of the season, a three-run shot over the left field fence. Colby Wherry singled and took second on an error. A wild pitch sent her to third and she scored on Maggie Ruckenbrod's sacrifice fly to make the score 4-0.
The Orange answered in the home half of the first when Watts drew a leadoff walk and scored on Lisaria Daniel's double to make it a 4-1 game. Daniels came around to score on Gibbs' double to cut the lead to 4-2. Caira's RBI single brought Emily Thompson home to pull Syracuse within a run with two outs and runners on first and second. Freshman catcher Taner Fowler's throw to Katie Keller picked Leah Porter off of second base to end the inning.
Back-to-back home runs from Nandin and Grant opened the bottom of the second to give Syracuse a 5-4 lead. The Orange added two more runs on sacrifice flies by Kohl and Gibbs to increase the lead to 7-4.
Syracuse added another run in the third when Nandin delivered a two-out hit and came around to score on Watts' RBI single to make the score 8-4.
The Cards put up a run in the fifth when Keller walked, stole second and came around to score on two wild pitches to cut the lead to 8-5.
Kohl connected on a one-out homer in the bottom of the sixth to increase the lead to 9-5.
Collins (14-8) took the loss, allowing five earned runs on five hits and striking out one in 1.2 innings.
Caira (30-9) got the win, giving up five runs, four earned, on seven hits and striking out six in 5.0 innings. Kohl was 2-for-3 with three RBIs.
