University of Louisville
Kentucky
Softball Falls 5-0 to No. 12 Kentucky
April 02, 2014 | Softball
April 2, 2014
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The University of Louisville softball team fell 5-0 to No. 12 Kentucky Wednesday evening at John Cropp Stadium.
Kentucky (29-7) struck in the bottom of the first when Sylver Samuel delivered a one-out single and took second on a wild pitch. A groundout by Griffin Joiner sent her to third and Emily Gaines' two-out single gave the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
The Wildcats added a run in the third to make it a 2-0 game. Ansley Smith led off with a single and an error on Samuel's sacrifice bunt attempt place runners at first and second. Joiner's fielder's choice saw Samuel out at second, but moved runners on first and third with one out. Louisville catcher Maggie Ruckenbrod and shortstop Hannah Kiyohara teamed to throw Smith out at the plate on a double steal attempt for the second out of the inning to hold UK at bay, but a walk to Gaines placed runners on first and second for Nikki Sagermann's RBI single.
Kentucky used two hits, two walks and an error to put up a three-spot in the fifth. Smith walked and Samuel followed with a single. An error on Joiner's fielder's choice loaded the bases. Gaines walked to plate Smith and Sagermann connected on a two-run hit to make the score 5-0.
Louisville's best chance to score came in the top of the third when Kelsi Jones connected on a one-out single and took second on Whitney Arion's groundout. Walks to Katie Keller and Brittany Duncan loaded the bases with two outs for Maryssa Becker whose fielder's choice saw Duncan out at second to end the threat.
Becker (8-4) took the loss, allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits, one walk and striking out two in 4.0 innings. Rachel LeCoq gave up three runs, two earned, on two hits and walked two in the fifth inning. Caralisa Connell retired all six batters she faced in the fifth and sixth innings. Kelsi Jones was 2 for 3 to lead the Cards at the plate.
Kelsey Nunley (13-3) got the complete game shutout win, holding the Cardinals to three hits and striking out five and did not allow a runner to reach after the third inning.
UofL (20-15) will travel to Tampa, Fla., for a three-game American Athletic Conference series against No. 25 USF April 5-6.
