University of Louisville
ILLINOIS STATE
No. 13 Softball Tops Illinois State 9-3
March 10, 2013 | Softball
March 10, 2013
Box Score
Coach Sandy Pearsall discusses the win over Illinois State
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Junior catcher Maggie Ruckenbrod went 2 for 4 with two doubles four RBIs and senior first baseman Alicja Wolny was 1 for 1 with three runs to help lead the No. 13 University of Louisville softball team to a 9-3 win over Illinois State Sunday in the final game of the Red & Black Classic. The Cards improve to 20-3 on the season.
"I don't think we were really sharp in the beginning, but we tightened up after a few innings," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "I thought we played very well today and of course our offense did a great job."
Wolny got the scoring started in the bottom of the first when she crushed a two-out shot off of the top of the scoreboard in left field for her sixth home run of the season.
The Redbirds (13-12) answered in the third. Back-to-back infield singles by Jhavon Hamilton and Lauren Kellar opened the inning. Both runners advanced on Laura Canopy's groundout and Elizabeth Kay walked to load the bases with one out. Shelby Music reached on a fielder's choice to Cardinal second baseman Katie Keller who threw to Ruckenbrod for the force out at home. Nichelle Harrison followed with an RBI single to left field which brought Kellar home and tied the game at 1-1. Kay attempted to score on the play, but left fielder Jennifer Esteban rifled a throw to Ruckenbrod who applied the tag for the third out of the inning.
Louisville got the run back in the third when Katie Keller leads off the inning with a triple, an error on throw sent her home to give the Cards a 2-1 lead. Wolny drew a walk and came around to score on Ruckenbrod's double to increase the lead to 3-1.
Illinois cut the lead to one run in the fifth on back-to back two-out doubles by Canopy and Kay to make the score 3-2.
The Cards pulled away with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth. Wolny walked and lifted for pinch runner Chrisanna Roberts who score on Ruckenbrod double off of the left field fence. Kiyohara followed with an RBI single to make it a 5-2 game.
Louisville used four hits to put up a four-spot in the sixth inning which was highlighted by Ruckenbrod's three-run double. Keller led off with a single and moved to third on Jordan Trimble's double. Wolny was intentionally walked to load the bases for Ruckenbrod who cleared the bases with a double. Kiyohara's base hit sent Ruckenbrod home to make it a 9-2 game.
Illinois State got a run back in the top of the seventh inning. Hamilton drew a leadoff walk and moved to third on Canopy's one-out single. Kay followed with an RBI single for the 9-3 final.
Caralisa Connell (12-2) got the win, allowing one earned run on three hits and striking out two in 4.0 innings. Rachel LeCoq allowed two earned runs on five hits and fanned four in 3.0 innings en route to her second save of the season. Kiyohara was 3 for 4 with two RBIs and Keller was 2 for 4 with two runs.
Taylor Baxter (7-4) took the loss, allowing three earned runs on six hits and striking out one in 3.0 innings. Kay was 2 for 2 with two RBIs to lead the Redbirds at the plate.
The Cardinals (20-3) are back in action on Tuesday, March 12, when they play host to Western Kentucky at 5:30 p.m.
