University of Louisville
RUTGERS
Softball Beats Rutgers 11-3
March 23, 2014 | Softball
March 23, 2014
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville softball team clinched its American Athletic Conference opening series with an 11-3 win over Rutgers Sunday at Ulmer Stadium. UofL improves to 18-11 (2-1) while Rutgers drops to 12-9 (1-2).
Kelsi Jones was 3 for 3 with three runs while Brittany Duncan was 2 for 3 with three RBIs and Katie Keller was 2 for 3 with three runs to lead the Cardinals at the plate.
The teams played through two innings before the Scarlet Knights took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third. Elizabeth Adams reached on a two-out error and infield hits by Loren Williams and Chandler Howard loaded the bases for Jackie Bates' two-run single.
The Cards answered with three runs in the home half of the third. Jones connected on a one-out single. She proceeded to steal second and take third on an errant throw. Whitney Arion's RBI hit pulled the Cardinals within a run. Katie Keller singled to set up Brittany Duncan's two-run double which gave Louisville a 3-2 lead.
Rutgers evened the score in the fifth when Williams reached on a two-out error and stole second. Howard singled and Bates was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Williams crossed the plate on a wild pitch to make it a 3-3 game.
Louisville responded with four runs in bottom of the fifth. Jones drew a leadoff walk and took second on Arion's sacrifice bunt. Keller walked Maryssa Becker followed with an RBI single. Duncan's base hit brought Keller home to give the Cards 5-3 lead. One out later, Kayla Soles was intentionally walked to load the bases for Brittany Sims who reached on an error which allowed pinch runners Morgan Meyer and Jordan McNary to score, increasing UofL's lead to 7-3.
The Cardinals tallied four more runs in the sixth. Jones and Keller singled to set up Maryssa Becker's RBI hit. Duncan walked and was lifted for pinch-runner Paige Alford. Ruckenbrod's base hit brought Keller home to make the score 9-3. One out later, Autumn McDuffie stepped up to the plate and delivered a two-out, two run double off of the right field fence for the 11-3 final.
Maryssa Becker (6-1) got the win, allowing one unearned run on one hit and striking out two in 2.2 innings of relief. Starter Caralisa Connell surrendered two unearned runs on four hits and struck out one in 3.1 innings.
Shayla Sweeney (4-5) took the loss, giving up eight runs, six earned on six hits in 2.1 innings.
