University of Louisville
OHIO
Softball Tops Ohio University 11-4
March 08, 2014 | Softball
March 8, 2014
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Senior Maggie Ruckenbrod was 3 for 4 with three RBIs as the University of Louisville softball team overcame a 3-0 deficit to beat Ohio University 11-4 Saturday evening at Ulmer Stadium. UofL improves to 10-6 on the season while Ohio drops to 13-11.
"I think our pitching staff did a great job," said UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall. "Maryssa Becker set the tone, and Rachel came in and shut them down. I like how our team really came out and swung the bats well and battled back after being down early. We got great contributions throughout our lineup, but we didn't play great defense and that's something we need to work on."
The Bobcats jumped to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first when Lex Cortez drew a one-out walk. Casie Hutchinson followed with an infield single and an error sent Cortez to third. Alex Basquez sent a sharp grounder to second baseman Katie Keller who fielded the ball and threw to catcher Maggie Ruckenbrod who turned to apply the tag, but Cortez leaped over her to score the first run of the game. Madison Clayton's two-run single made the score 3-0.
Louisville threatened to score in the home half of the first when Katie Keller earned a leadoff walk and errors allowed Whitney Arion and Kelsi Jones to load the bases. Brittany Duncan sent a softball pop up to pitcher Lauren McClary who dropped the ball, but recovered to throw Keller out at the plate and Arion out at third. A groundout ended the inning and kept the Cards scoreless.
The Cardinals capitalized on four hits to score four runs in the bottom of the third. Keller walked and scored on a double by Arion to put UofL on the scoreboard. Jones followed with a single and Duncan walked to load the bases for Maryssa Becker's RBI hit which cut the lead to one run. Jones and Duncan scored on Ruckenbrod's two-run double to give Louisville a 4-3 lead.
The Bobcats answered in the top of the fourth when Madison Claytor registered a leadoff double and scored on a hit by Alyssa Wolfe to tie the game at 4-4.
Louisville used five hits to put up a five spot in the fifth and take the lead for good. Duncan led off with a single and pinch-runner Morgan Meyer was safe at second on Taner Fowler's fielder's choice. RBI hits by Ruckenbrod, Sims and Kiyohara and a two-run single by Kiyohara gave the Cards a 10-4 lead.
In the sixth, Becker doubled and took third on Ruckenbrod's single. A sacrifice fly by Sims capped scoring for an 11-4 final.
Rachel LeCoq (4-3) got the win, holding the Bobcats scoreless and hitless with three strikeouts in 3.1 innings of relief. Becker allowed four runs, three earned on four hits and struck out five in 3.2 innings of work. Arion was 2 for 4 with three RBIs and a run. Becker was 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI.
UofL (10-6) will face Ohio State at 3 p.m. and Ohio University at 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
