University of Louisville
USF
Softball Rallies to Beat No. 25 USF 3-1
April 06, 2014 | Softball
April 6, 2014
TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Louisville softball team scored three-runs in the top of seventh to overcome a 1-0 deficit and defeat No. 25 USF 3-1 to complete a three-game sweep of the host Bulls Sunday afternoon. The Cardinals improve to 23-15 and 5-4 in American Athletic Conference play.
"Great job today by the whole team," said UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall. "Maryssa Becker really rose to the occasion and when our backs were against the wall, our hitters did what we needed to do to win. We made some great defensive plays throughout the game - and the whole weekend. This is the team we've known we had all along and we're very proud of how they played this weekend and how hard they fought."
After five and a half scoreless, innings, the Bulls (29-11, 3-3 AAC) broke through with a run in the bottom of the sixth. Louisville pitcher Maryssa Becker had retired 13 straight batters since the third inning, until two outs in the bottom of the sixth when Kourtney Savarola was safe on an infield single. Ashli Goff followed with another infield hit and an error on the throw sent Savarola home to put USF up 1-0.
Louisville quickly answered in the top of the seventh, using three hits to score three runs. Hannah Kiyohara delivered a one-out single and was lifted for pinch-runner Paige Alford who sprinted around to score when Kelsi Jones followed with a double to tie the game at 1-1. Whitney Arion followed with her third hit of the game which brought Jones home to give the Cards a 2-1 lead. Katie Keller was hit by a pitch and Brittany Duncan walked to load the bases for Maryssa Becker whose RBI single provided an insurance run.
The Bulls put a runner on in the bottom of the seventh when Lee Ann Spivey registered a hit, to bring the tying run to the plate with one out, but Becker fanned the next two batters to end the game.
The Cardinals mounted an early scoring threat in the first when Whitney Arion connected on a one-out single and moved to third on Katie Keller's double. Brittany Duncan walked to load the bases, but USF's Sara Nevins got a strikeout and a popup to end the threat.
Becker (10-3) got the win, allowing one unearned run on four hits and striking out seven in a complete-game effort. Arion was 3 for 4 with a run and an RBI while Keller was 2 for 3 to lead the Cards at the plate.
Sara Nevins (17-6) took the loss, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and striking out seven in 6.1 innings. Spivey was 2 for 3 to lead USF offensively.
Louisville returns to action on April 8 when Evansville visits Ulmer Stadium for a single game at 6 p.m.
