University of Louisville
UCF
Softball Splits Doubleheader with UCF
April 18, 2014 | Softball
April 18, 2014
ORLANDO, Fla. - The University of Louisville softball team split an American Athletic Conference doubleheader with host UCF, winning the first game 1-0 and falling 3-2 in the nightcap Friday at the UCF Softball Complex. Louisville (28-26, 9-5 American) and UCF (32-14, 8-3) will meet in the rubber-game Saturday at 12 p.m.
Louisville 1 - UCF 0
The first game of the day featured a pitcher's duel that saw both teams scoreless entering the seventh inning. Maryssa Becker led off the frame with a single to right field and moved to third when Taner Fowler followed with a double to deep centerfield. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Maggie Ruckenbrod brought home the only run of the game.
UCF threatened in the home half of the seventh when Mariah Garcia drew a leadoff walk and took second on Samantha McCloskey's groundout to put the tying run in scoring position, but a fly out to left field ended the game.
The Cardinals had a chance to score in the fifth when Becker walked and singles by Ruckenbrod and Hannah Kiyohara loaded the bases with two out, but UCF pitcher Mackenzie Audas got a strikeout and a groundout to end the threat.
UCF's best chance to score came in the third when Kahley Novak delivered a one-out hit, took second on a wild pitch and moved to third on Linnea Goodman's groundout. Farrah Sullivan sent a hit up the middle which shortstop Hannah Kiyohara stopped and made the throw to first baseman Tiarra Sanabria for the third out of the inning as Novak was crossing the plate.
Rachel LeCoq (9-7) got the win, holding the Knights scoreless on one hit and striking out one in 2.2 innings of relief. Maryssa Becker combined on the shutout, allowing one hit and fanning three in 4.1 innings. Ruckenbrod was 1 for 2 with an RBI to lead the Cards at the plate.
Mackenzie Audas (14-9) took the loss, scattering five hits and striking out seven in 7.0 innings. Novak and Maddy Schroeder accounted for the Knights' two hits.
UCF 3 - Louisville 2
In game two, Maryssa Becker was 2 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs, but the Cards fell 3-2 to the host Knights, snapping a season-high eight-game winning streak.
The Cardinals jumped on the scoreboard in the second when Becker sailed a 1-0 pitch over the left field wall for her second home run of the season to give Louisville a 1-0 lead.
The Knights answered in the bottom of the third when Taylor Wagner singled and came around to score on a hit by Kahley Novak that fell in for a triple in left centerfield to even the score at 1-1.
UCF pulled ahead in the top of the fourth. Jessica Uvari singled and took second on Kalyn Cenal's sacrifice bunt. A wild pitch sent her to third and she came home on Mariah Garcia's base hit to make it a 2-1 game.
The Knights added another run in the fifth. Novak walked, stole second and scored on Farrah Sullivan's single to increase UCF's lead to 3-1.
The Cardinals got a run back in the top of the sixth when Brittany Duncan walked and was lifted for pinch-runner Jordan McNary who took second on a groundout by Kayla Soles and came around to score on Becker's RBI single.
LeCoq (9-8) took the loss, allowing two earned runs on five hits and striking out three in 3.2 innings.
