University of Louisville
EASTERN KENTUCKY
Softball Splits on Day One of Cardinal Classic
February 21, 2014 | Softball
Feb. 21, 2014
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville softball team defeated Northern Kentucky 11-2 and fell 4-0 to Eastern Kentucky Friday on the first day of the Cardinal Classic. UofL (5-6) will face IUPUI at 3 p.m. and Central Michigan at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
In their first game of the day, the Cardinals used a season-high 16 hits to defeat Northern Kentucky 11-2 in five innings.
Northern Kentucky jumped to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when KC Straley drew a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on Alexis VanHorn's single.
Louisville answered in the bottom of the inning when Kelsi Jones reached on an error and hits by Whitney Arion and Brittany Duncan loaded the bases for Taner Fowler's single. RBI singles by Ruckenbrod and Soles and Hannah Kiyohara's groundout gave the Cards a 4-1 lead.
UofL added another run in the second when Katie Keller registered a two-out double and came around to score on Fowler's double.
The third inning brought four more runs for the Cardinals. Kayla Soles and Kiyohara registered back-to-back singles to start the inning and Morgan Meyer's base hit brought Soles home. A triple by Jones cleared the bases and increased the lead to 9-1.
The Norse got a run back in the top of the fourth when VanHorn drew a walk and Katelyn Roy's double placed runners on the corners and a wild pitch sent VanHorn home to make it a 9-2.
The Cardinals tacked on two more runs in the fifth. Brittany Duncan walk and was lifted for pinch runner Paige Alford who took second on Keller's base hit. Maggie Ruckenbrod's double brought both runners home for the 11-2 final.
Caralisa Connell (3-3) got the win, allowing two earned runs on two hits and striking out four in 4.0 innings. Maryssa Becker surrendered one hit and struck out one in 1.0 inning of relief. Ruckenbrod was 2 for 4 with a double and three RBIs while Fowler was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and a run and Jones was 2 for 4 with two runs and two RBIs.
Alex Caudill (0-4) took the loss, allowing nine runs, six earned on 12 hits in 2.0 innings.
Eastern Kentucky 4 - Louisville 0 In game two, the teams played through six scoreless innings before Eastern Kentucky (5-6) broke through with four runs in the top of the seventh. Kayla Joyce reached on a fielder's choice and Krislyn Campos followed with a single. A groundout moved to runners to bring up Katie Tackett with two-outs in the innings. Tackett sent an 0-1 pitch over the left field fence to give the Colonels a 3-0 lead. Lauren Mitchell followed with a two-out solo shot to make the score 4-0.
The Colonels had a chance to score in the third when Joyce reached on an error and walks to Campos and Christina Ciolek loaded the bases with one out. UofL starter Rachel LeCoq dealt a strikeout and a groundout to end the threat.
EKU also loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth. Shannon McQueen singled, an error allowed Sarah Fobbs to reach and Amber Murray's bunt single loaded the bases. Two force plays at home and a groundball held the Colonels at bay. LeCoq (2-3) took the loss, allowing four earned runs on eight hits and striking out three in 6.2 innings. Brittany Duncan registered Louisville's lone hit.
Leanna Pittsenbarger (4-2) got the complete-game shutout, and gave up one hit while striking out seven. Campos was 2 for 3 with a run and Tackett was 1 for 4 with three RBIs.
