University of Louisville
Illinois
No. 24 Softball Downs Illinois 8-3
February 10, 2012 | Softball
Feb. 10, 2012
MIAMI - - The 24th ranked University of Louisville softball team defeated Illinois 8-3 in the second game of the FIU Combat Classic to improve to 2-0 on the season.
In their second game of the day, Taner Fowler and Maggie Ruckenbrod homered and Tori Collins picked up her second win of the day as the Cards defeated Illinois 8-3.
Illinois struck early with a run in the first. Brittany Sanchez walked and came around to score on Meredith Hackett's double to give the Fighting Illini a 1-0 lead.
The Cards answered in the top of the second when Maggie Ruckenbrod drew a leadoff walk and Fowler followed with a two-run shot over the left field wall for her second home run of the day.
Louisville added to the lead in the fourth when sophomore Hannah Kiyohara connected on a two-out single and scored on senior Kristin Austin's triple down the left field line.
Illinois put up two runs in the bottom of the fifth when Danielle Vaji reached on a bunt single and Sanchez and Wedel walked to load the bases. A fielder's choice by Jessica Davis saw Vaji out at home. A wild pitch moved the runners and sent Sanchez home. Walks issued to Meredith Hackett and Jess Perkins sent Wedel home to tie the game at 3-3.
The Cards exploded for five runs in the sixth. They quickly regained the lead when junior Katelyn Mann smacked a leadoff triple to right field and came home on an error to make the score 4-3. Austin was safe on an infield single and moved to second when Jennifer Esteban reached on an error. Jordan Trimble's RBI single plated Austin. Ruckenbrod followed with a three-run shot over the fence in left centerfield to increase the lead to 8-3.
Tori Collins (2-0) picked up the win allowing one hit and striking out three in 2.1 innings of relief. Austin was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Ruckenbrod finished 1-for-3 with three RBIs and a run. Fowler and Kiyohara each had a pair of hits.
Pepper Gay (0-1) took the loss, allowing eight runs, three earned, on nine hits and striking out seven.
The Cards are back in action Saturday when they face UAB at 9 a.m.
