University of Louisville
TEMPLE
Softball Sweeps Temple 14-6 and 5-0
April 26, 2014 | Softball
April 26, 2014
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -Senior Taner Fowler went 5 for 7 with five RBIs on the day and senior Caralisa Connell delivered a season-high 12 strikeouts in game two as the University of Louisville softball team swept Temple 14-6 and 5-0 in an American Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday at Ulmer Stadium.
Louisville (30-18, 11-6) and Temple (15-24, 5-9) will conclude the series Sunday at 12 p.m.
"We did a great job offensively and certainly Caralisa Connell did a tremendous job on the mound," said UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall. "I was really pleased with her complete game effort and had 12 strikeouts - that's the Caralisa we all know. I thought the team did a great job of staying up and getting the job done."
Louisville 14 - Temple 6
In Saturday's opening game, Fowler was 3 for 4 with a home run, four RBIs and three runs to help lead the Cardinals to a 14-6 win over the Owls.
The Cards used five hits to take a 6-0 lead in the second. Taner Fowler reached on a fielder's choice and Ruckenbrod followed with a single. Both runners moved on Hannah Kiyohara's groundout and scored on a two-run single by Kelsi Jones. Whitney Arion singled to set up Katie Keller's two-run double. Brittany Duncan walked and Kayla Soles followed with a two-run double to bring home the sixth run of the inning - all with two outs.
The Owls got a run back in the top of the third when Devynne Nelons connected on a one-out home run to make the score 6-1.
Louisville answered when Fowler led off the home half of the third with her seventh home run of the season to make the score 7-1. Maggie Ruckenbrod walked and moved to third on Arion's base hit. Arion stole second. A wild pitch sent Ruckenbrod home and Arion to third. Another wild pitch brought Arion home to make the score 9-1.
Temple narrowed the gap with three runs in the top of the fourth. Kelsey Dominik and Kaylyn Zierke opened the inning with back-to-back hits to set up Annie Marcopolus' three-run homer to bring the score to 9-4.
The Cards responded with a four-spot in the bottom of the inning. Kayla Sole reached on a fielder's choice and Maryssa Becker followed with a hit. Both runners moved on a wild pitch and scored on Fowler's two-run single. Kiyohara's base hit brought Fowler home. A two-out RBI single by Jones plated Kiyohara to make it a 13-4 game.
The Owls added a pair of runs in the top of the fifth when Dominik drew a leadoff walk and took second on Zierke's base hit. A fielder's choice by Marcopolus saw Zierke out at second, but sent pinch-runner Gina Pellechio home. A single by Devynne Nelons plated Marcopolus to make the score 13-6.
Louisville tacked on the final run of the game in the fifth when Soles and Becker drew back-to-back walks and Fowler's RBI hit gave the Cards the 14-6 win.
Rachel LeCoq (10-8) got the win, allowing four earned runs on six hits and struck out four in 3.0 innings. Jones was 2 for 4 with three RBI. Keller was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and a run, Arion was 2 for 4 with two runs. Each player in the Louisville batting order had at least one hit, except for Duncan who was walked three times.
Louisville 5 - Temple 0
In game two, Caralisa Connell dealt a season-high 12 strikeouts and tossed a complete game shutout and Hannah Kiyohara went 3 for 3 with two RBIs to lead the Cards to a 5-0 win in the nightcap.
Louisville took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Brittany Duncan walked, took second on a sacrifice bunt by Kayla Soles and came around to score on a two-out RBI single by Taner Fowler. Fowler moved to third on Maggie Ruckenbrod's base hit and Hannah Kiyohara's two-run single gave the Cards a 3-0 lead.
UofL added a pair of runs in the third when Whitney Arion walked and Katie Keller singled to set up Maryssa Becker's two-out, two-run double off of the centerfield fence to increase the lead to 5-0.
Connell (8-5) scattered two hits and did not allow a walk in the complete game shutouts. Kiyohara was 3 for 3 with two RBIs. Fowler was 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI to lead the Cards offensively.
Amanda Gatt (4-5) took the loss, allowing five earned runs on nine hits and striking out two in 6.0 innings. Brooklin White and Toni Santos accounted for the Owls' two hits.
Prior to Sunday's game the Cards will honor seniors Taner Fowler, Katie Keller, Hannah Kiyohara, Rachel LeCoq and Maggie Ruckenbrod. The senior class of 2014 has won 170 games, they have played in two conference title games, and have made three NCAA appearances, hosting twice. Their teams have been a fixture in the national rankings - reaching as high as No. 7 in 2012 and 2013.
• The 2012 campaign saw the Cards win a program-best 55 games, capture the conference tournament crown and host an NCAA Regional as a national seed for the first time in school history.
• The 2013 Cardinals were one of just four teams to topple the No. 1 team in the nation when they eventual national champion Oklahoma on the road.
• All six seniors have earned All-Conference honors during their first three seasons at Louisville representing 11 all-conference selections, four-All Great Lakes Region selections, and two All-Americans.
