University of Louisville
Kentucky
No. 12/13 Softball Tops Kentucky 2-1
April 05, 2012 | Softball
April 4, 2012
Connell and Fowler following the Cards' 2-1 win over Kentucky
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - - Sophomore Taner Fowler went 2 for 3 with a double and two RBIs and sophomore Caralisa Connell scattered two hits in 6.0 innings as the No. 12/13 University of Louisville softball team defeated Kentucky 2-1 at Ulmer Stadium in front of record crowd of 1,294. Louisville improves to 30-2 while Kentucky drops to 16-20.
"Tonight was another intense game with a very good Kentucky team," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "Hats off to Caralisa Connell, she kept us in the game and did a tremendous job coming back in when we needed her. Our team showed great resilience and energy in offense and our defense came through in the clutch. It was good to see the team playing and having fun again. Tonight's crowd was outstanding. We appreciate the fans who stuck with us through the rain delay and they really gave us a lot of positive energy."
After heavy rain in the area delayed the start of the game for 90 minutes, the Cards struck early with a run in the first when sophomore Katie Keller connected on a two-out single and Fowler followed with an RBI double to give Louisville a 1-0 lead.
Keller and Fowler combined again to score another run in the third. Keller delivered a leadoff double and came around to score on a single by Fowler to make the score 2-0.
Connell took a no-hitter into the fourth inning before Kara Dill and Griffin Joiner registered back-to-back infield singles. Connell got Brittany Cervantes to line into a double play and Rachel Riley to ground out to send the game into the home half of the inning.
Sophomore Chelsea Leonard took the circle in the top of the sixth and retired all three batters she faced on groundouts.
A seventh inning Kentucky rally fell short as Kentucky scored an unearned run on a bases-loaded and left the bases loaded. Joiner and Cervantes drew back-to-back walks and Connell re-entered the game. An error allowed Riley to reach and loaded the bases with no outs. Connell got Ginny Carroll and Alice O'Brien to hit into fielder's choice which saw Joiner and Cervantes out at the plate. Pinch-hitter Emily Gaines drew a walk to plate pinch-runner Ashleigh Gustafson and put the Wildcats on the scoreboard. Emily Jolly flied out to left field to end the game.
Fowler went 2 for 3 with a double and two RBI and Keller went 2 for 3 with a double and two runs.
Sophomore Caralisa Connell improved to 11-1 and gave up two hits while striking out four in 6.0 innings. Chelsea Leonard allowed an unearned run in one inning of relief.
Rachel Riley (4-6) took the loss, allowing two earned runs on six hits and striking out three in 3.0 innings. Kara Dill and Griffin Joiner accounted for Kentucky's hits.
The Cardinals are back in action this weekend when they play host to BIG EAST Conference opponents Rutgers in a three-game series. The teams will meet in a doubleheader Friday at noon and a single game Saturday at 11 a.m.
