University of Louisville
UC Davis
Softball Defeats UC Davis 6-4 in Season Opener
February 06, 2015 | Softball
Sandy Pearsall on the 6-4 win over UC Davis
Shelby McCombs getting the win against UC Davis
Brittany Duncan hit a solo home run in the Cards 6-4 win over UC Davis
LAS VEGAS - Sophomore Kristina Dillard went 2 for 3 and drove in three runs to help lead the University of Louisville softball team to a 6-4 win over UC Davis in both teams' season opener at the UNLV Sportco Kick-Off Classic Friday. Louisville (1-0) will face host UNLV Friday evening at 6:45 p.m. (EST).
"Overall, I was pleased with our first game," said UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall. "I think we got good performances on the mound from freshmen Shelby McCombs and Bridgette Flaherty. We started out swinging the ball well, but we need to have more patience at the plate and capitalize when we have runners in scoring position."
The Cards jumped to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Senior Brittany Duncan got the scoring started when she lifted a two-out, 1-2 pitch over the right field fence for her first home run of the season to give Louisville a 1-0 lead. Sophomore Maryssa Becker followed with a double. Senior Whitney Arion and junior Hailey Smith walked to load the bases for Kristina Dillard's two-run single. Smith scored on an error to increase the lead to 4-0.
The Aggies (0-1) responded with three runs in the top of the third. Katie Robertson led off the frame with a single and an error saw her safe at second with Alexandra Sotomayor reached on a fielder's choice. Brianna Warner walked to load the bases for Krista Bava's two-run double. Crista Castello followed with an RBI hit to make the score 4-3. With no outs and runners on the corners, sophomore catcher Kristina Dillard and senior shortstop Whitney Arion teamed to catch Castello attempting to steal second for the first out of the inning. Freshman pitcher Shelby McCombs, Smith and Dillard combined to tag Bava out at the plate to stave off the tying run for the second out of the inning. McCombs got Amy Nunez to ground out to end the third.
Louisville answered with a pair of runs in the home half of the fourth. Duncan drew a one-out walk and was lifted for pinch-runner Morgan Meyer who moved to third on Becker's second double of the game. Arion reached on a fielder's choice which kept Meyer at third, but loaded the bases for Smith who walked to bring Meyer home. Dillard's RBI single plated pinch-runner Jordan McNary to make the score 6-3.
UC Davis got a run back in the top of the sixth when Kelly Zboralske and Christina Guidry delivered back-to-back singles and a walk to Alicia Paine loaded the bases with one out. A wild pitch sent pinch-runner Kaila Olson home to cut the lead to two runs.
The Aggies threatened to score again in the top of the seventh. Bava walked and took second on a wild pitch and Castello was safe on an infield single. Amy Nunez delivered a hit to load the bases with no outs. McCombs, who had started the game in the circle, but exited after the fourth inning, re-entered to face the Zboralske. She got the Aggies' No. 4 hitter to ground into a double play with outs at home and first and then retired Guidry to end the game.
McCombs (1-0) picked up her first collegiate win allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits and striking out one and walking one in 5.0 innings. The Cardinals registered 10 hits including a 2 for 3, two double performance from Becker. Freshman Bridgette Flaherty gave up one run on two hits and one walk in 1.1 innings of work while Becker struck out two and allowed two hits and two walks in 0.2
Olson (0-1) took the loss giving up four runs, three earned, on six hits and striking out one in 3.0 innings.
