University of Louisville
Memphis
Softball Splits Memphis Doubleheader
May 03, 2014 | Softball
May 3, 2014
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Louisville softball team split a doubleheader with host Memphis, dropping the first 3-2 and rebounding for a 6-0 win in the nightcap. The Cards (32-20, 13-7 American) and the Tigers (23-31, 5-14) will play the rubber game Sunday at 1 p.m.
Memphis 3 - Louisville 2
The Cardinals took a 2-0 lead behind solo home run by Brittany Duncan and Whitney Arion, but it wasn't enough as Memphis scored a run in the fourth and two runs in the bottom of the seventh to take game one by a score of 3-2.
Brittany Duncan put the Cardinals on the scoreboard in the top of the second when she launched a 2-1 pitch over the right field fence for her seventh home run of the season to give Louisville a 1-0 lead. In the third, Whitney Arion added a home run of her own, connecting on a 1-1 count for her sixth homer of the season to increase the lead to 2-0.
The Tigers got a run back in the fourth when Kelly Braman led off with double and took third on Cierra Mangum's base hit. Jaye Smith's two-out single brought Braman home to make the score 2-1.
The Memphis offense continued in the home half of the seventh. Amber Lindahl led off with a single and took second on an infield hit by Crowdus. Hill singled and an error on the play sent Lindahl home to tie the score at 2-2. Kelly Braman was intentionally walked to load the bases with two outs for Ellen Roberts' RBI hit to left field to give the Tigers the 3-2 win.
Becker (12-7) took the loss, allowing three earned runs on 10 hits and striking out eight in 6.2 innings.
Roberts (12-18) got the win, giving up two earned runs and holding the Cardinals to four hits while striking out four in a complete game effort.
Louisville 6 - Memphis 0
In game two, Caralisa Connell struck out three in a complete game shutout while Brittany Duncan and Taner Fowler had two RBIs apiece to help the Cards to a 6-0 win.
Louisville jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first when Kelsi Jones led off the game with a double down the left field line, Whitney Arion followed with a single and both runners scored on Brittany Duncan's double down the right field line.
The Tigers' best scoring opportunity came in the second when Cierra Mangum reached on a fielder's choice, Jaye Smith singled and a walk to Calli Irvin loaded the bases with one out. Connell got Amber Lindahl to hit a grounder to third where Arion fielded the ball and teamed with catcher Maggie Ruckenbrod for a force out at the plate. Connell struck out Lindsay Crowdus to get out of the jam.
The Cards added a run in the fifth. Hannah Kiyohara delivered a leadoff hit and took second on Arion's sacrifice bunt. Walks to Jones and Duncan loaded the bases for Katie Keller whose sacrifice fly plated Kiyohara to make the score 3-0.
Kayla Soles led off the sixth with a shot over the left field fence for her seventh homer of the season to increase UofL's lead to 4-0.
Louisville tacked on a pair of runs in the sixth when Jones walked and Arion followed with a bunt single and an error on the play placed both runners in scoring position for Fowler's two-out, two-run hit for the 6-0 final.
Connell (10-5) got the win scattering four hits and striking out three en route to her third shutout of the season. Arion was 3 for 3 with two runs. Jones was 1 for 2 with two walks and two runs to help pace the Cards offensively.
Christian Novak (9-10) took the loss, allowing four earned runs on eight hits and striking out four in 5.0 innings.
