University of Louisville
Middle Tennessee State
No. 17/19 Softball Takes Down Middle Tennessee 10-1
March 02, 2012 | Softball
March 2, 2012
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - - Sophomore Taner Fowler went 3 for 3 with a home run to help lead the No. 17/19 University of Louisville to a 10-1 win over Middle Tennessee in the opening game of the Tennessee Classic.
After a nearly two hour rain delay, the Cards took just an hour and six minutes to dispatch the Blue Raiders in five innings and improve to 13-0 on the season.
Middle Tennessee jumped to an early 1-0 lead in the second when Kelsey Woodruff connected on a one-out solo shot over the left field wall.
U of L answered with three home runs in the bottom of the second to take a 4-1 lead. The Cards started the inning with back-to-back homers from Fowler and junior Alicja Wolny. Fowler led off the inning with a shot over centerfield for her team-best fourth homer of the season. Wolny followed with her first home run of the season over right centerfield to give Louisville a 2-1 lead. One out later, junior Katelyn Mann was hit by a pitch to set up freshman Whitney Arion's two-run shot to make it a 4-1 game.
Louisville tallied three more runs in the third. Wolny's double plated sophomore Katie Keller who had reached on a fielder's choice. Fowler singled and eventually came around to score on Jordan Trimble's sacrifice fly. Junior Katelyn Mann's RBI single sent Wolny home to increase the lead to 7-1.
The Cards put the game away with another three-spot in the fourth. Junior Jennifer Esteban extended her hitting streak to 11 with a one-out single and was safe when Kristin Austin reached on a fielder's choice. Keller followed with a two-run single and came home on Fowler's infield hit to wrap up the scoring at 10-1.
Senior Tori Collins (7-0) got the win, allowing one earned run on four hits and striking out five. In addition to Fowler's 3 for 3 performance, Wolny helped pace the Cards offensively, going 2 for 3 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs.
Jordyn Fisherback (0-2) took the loss, allowing seven earned runs on six hit and striking out on in 2.2 innings. Middle Tennessee drops to 3-6 on the season. U of L returns to action Saturday when the Cards face Memphis at 5:30 p.m.
