University of Louisville
Arkansas
Softball Beats Arkansas and Florida A&M
February 14, 2015 | Softball
CLERMONT, Fla. - Kelsi Jones went 6 for 7 with six RBIs and four runs on the day to help lead the University of Louisville softball team to a pair of wins on the second day of Dot Richardson's National Collegiate Softball Invitational Saturday evening. The Cardinals (5-4) defeated Arkansas 11-5 and Florida A&M 16-1 in five innings. UofL will wrap up the weekend against Middle Tennessee Sunday at 9 a.m.
"I think yesterday we struggled in every area of the game and today we were much better," said UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall. "Offensively we came out and swung the bats really well and capitalized on some mistakes, but scored a lot of runs which is something we've struggled with lately. I think pitching-wise, Madi Norman did a great job and Maryssa Becker had probably her best performance of the season."
The Razorbacks jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Devon Wallace and Kasey Fagan led off the game with back-to-back singles and two outs later Sydney Wright connected on a two-run single.
The Cardinals quickly answered with nine runs in the home half of the inning. Whitney Arion doubled and scored on Jordan McNary's single. Maryssa Becker followed with a hit to place runners on first and third. Jones delivered an RBI double to tie the game at 2-2. Nicole Pufahl's two-run double gave the Cards a 4-2 lead. Brittany Sims singled Pufahl home. Kristina Dillard walked and Hailey Smith registered and RBI single. McNary's base hit brought Dillard home and Smith crossed the plate on Becker's double to give Louisville a 9-2 lead after one complete inning.
UofL tacked on a pair of runs in the third when Dillard registered a leadoff single and moved to third on an error, Arion reached on a fielder's choice and Kayla Soles walked to load the bases. An error sent Dillard and Arion home to give the Cards an 11-2 lead.
The Razorbacks got two runs back in the top of the fourth. Wright led off with a hit to set up Schroeder's first home run of the game made the score 11-4.
In the sixth inning, Schroeder connected on her second home run of the game bringing the score to 11-5.
Madi Norman (2-3) got the win, allowing four earned runs on seven hits and striking out two in 4.0 innings. Becker picked up her first save of the season after giving up one run on two hits and striking out four in 3.0 innings of relief. Jones was 3 for 4 with two doubles, a run and an RBI. McNary was 2 for 2 with two runs and two RBIs. Becker was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and one run.
Sydney Wright (2-1) took the loss allowing eight earned runs on seven hits and striking out one in 0.1 innings. Schroeder was 2 for 3 with two home runs and three RBIs.
In their second game of the day, Jones was 3 for 3 with five RBIs and three runs, Becker was 3 for 3 with three runs and Maryssa Becker struck out seven to help the Cardinals to a 16-1 win over Florida A&M.
The Cardinals jumped to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Arion walked and McNary singled. Becker delivered an RBI hit, Jones followed with a two-run single and Jones delivered an RBI hit to make the score 4-0.
Louisville used 11 hits, two walks and an error to score 11 runs in the third. A two-run triple by Nicole Pufahl and a two-run double by Jones highlighted the inning as the lead increased to 15-0.
The Cardinals added a final run in the fourth when Kayla Soles singled and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Pufahl.
The Rattlers got on the scoreboard in the fifth. Amber Fullwood singled, stole second and crossed the plate on a double by Denise Anderson for the 16-1 final.
Becker (1-0) earned the win, allowing one earned run and struck out seven while scattering three hits in 5.0 innings. Pufahl was 2 for 3 with a triple, three RBIs and two runs.
Veronica Burse (0-1) took the loss allowing 13 earned runs on 11 hits and striking out two in 2.1 innings.
