University of Louisville
UAB
Softball Powers Past UAB
February 11, 2012 | Softball
Feb. 11, 2012
MIAMI - - Sophomore Maggie Ruckenbrod blasted two home runs and junior Katelyn Mann registered her first career homer as the No. 24 University of Louisville softball team defeated UAB 5-4 Saturday in the FIU Combat Classic. The Cards (3-0) will also face host FIU Saturday.
The Blazers struck early with two runs in the first. Catherine Crawford walked to set up Mandy Lowman's two-run shot over the left field fence.
The Cards answered in the bottom of the second when sophomore Taner Fowler led off with a single, took second on sophomore Hannah Kiyohara's sacrifice bunt and moved to third on sophomore Jordan Trimble's groundout. Junior Katelyn Mann stepped up to the plate and powered her first career home run over the left field fence to tie the game a 2-2.
Sophomore Maggie Ruckenbrod sent a two-out solo shot straight over the centerfield fence to pull the Cards ahead 3-2 in the third.
The Blazers regained the lead with two runs in the top of the fifth. After Erica Sisson walked and Whitney Fletcher followed with a two-out single, an error placed runners on second and third. Back-to-back hits by Crawford and Chandler Orr plated pinch-runner Maegan Hornsby and Fletcher to make the score 4-3. A walk to Crawford loaded the bases. Sophomore Chelsea Leonard entered the game and struck out Lowman to end the inning.
Louisville jumped right back on top with Ruckenbrod's two-run homer in the home half of the fifth. Sophomore Katie Keller led off the inning with a single. One out later, Ruckenbrod sent a shot over the left field fence for her second home run of the day and third of the season.
Leonard (1-0) picked up the win, holding the Blazers scoreless and striking out two in 2.1 innings of relief. Ruckenbrod led the Cardinals offensively, going 2 for 3 with two homers, three RBI and two runs. Fowler was 2 for 3 with a run.
Lannah Campbell (0-1) took the loss, giving up two earned runs on three hits and striking out three in 3.0 innings.
