University of Louisville
ILLINOIS STATE
Softball Splits Illinois State Doubleheader
March 09, 2015 | Softball
Box Score | Photo Gallery 
A grand slam by Kayla Soles highlighted the Cards' 10-2 over Illinois State
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville softball team defeated Illinois State 10-2 and then fell 4-3 in eight innings in the nightcap of a doubleheader Monday at Ulmer Stadium. The Cardinals (10-7) return to action on Wednesday, March 11 when they travel to Miami (Ohio).
"We saw a lot of great things from our younger players today," said UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall. "In the second game, credit Illinois State... their pitcher kept us off balance and we did not make the adjustments we needed to make."
Louisville 10 - Illinois State 2 (5 innings)Â 
In game one, Jordan McNary went 3 for 3 with two runs, Kayla Soles connected on a grand slam to key the Cardinals to a 10-2 five-inning win over Illinois State.
The Redbirds (9-13) struck early with a run in the top of the first. Annie Heineman led off the game with a walk, took second on Kara Repp's sacrifice bunt, and moved to third on a groundout. A wild pitch sent Heineman home to give Illinois State an early 1-0 lead.
The Cardinals answered in the home half of the first when Jordan McNary singled, took second on a wild pitch and moved to third on Maryssa Becker's hit. Hailey Smith walked to load the bases for Whitney Arion's two-run single to put Louisville on top 2-1.
Illinois State got a run back in the second to even the score at 2-2. Abby Turczyn delivered a two-out double and crossed the plate when Lindsey Greene followed with a double.
In the bottom of the second, Louisville pulled ahead for good courtesy of Soles' first career grand slam. Alison Szydlowski got the home half of the inning started with a hit and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Nicole Pufahl. One out later, McNary singled and proceeded to steal second. Maryssa Becker was intentionally walked to load the bases for Soles who sent a 1-0 pitch to the scoreboard in left center field to give the Cards a 6-2 lead.
Louisville tacked on two more runs in the third when Brittany Sims singled and Tiarra Sanabria followed with a double to place runners on second and third. Both runners came home when Szydlowski reached on an error to make the score 8-2.
The Cardinals capped the scoring with a two-run fifth inning. Arion and Sanabria each singled to set up Szydlowski's two-run double to give Louisville the 10-2 win.
Becker (3-1) got the complete-game win, scattering three hits and striking out seven in 5.0 innings. Szydlowski finished the game batting 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a run while Sanabria was 2 for 3 with two runs.
Regan Romshek (7-7) took the loss allowing eight runs, six earned, on eight hits and striking out four in 2.0 innings.
Illinois State 4 - Louisville 3 (8 innings)Â
In game two, the Cardinals rallied from a 2-1 deficit to send the game into extra innings, but could not overcome a two-run eighth by Illinois State.
After a scoreless first inning, the Redbirds used an unearned run to take a 1-0 lead. Riley Strandgard delivered a one-out hit and was safe at second on an error when Regan Romshek reached on a fielder's choice. An illegal pitch moved her to third and a subsequent illegal pitch sent her home to put Illinois State on the scoreboard.
The Cardinals responded with an unearned run of their own in the bottom of the second. Brittany Sims reached on a leadoff error, took second on Soles' sacrifice bunt, and came around to score on a single by Szydlowski to tie the game at 1-1.
Illinois State regained the lead in the fourth when Jordan de los Reyes singled and took second on a wild pitch. A hit by Stephanie Gallant placed runners on the corners for Strandgard's sacrifice fly to put the Redbirds on top 2-1.
Louisville had runners in scoring position in the fifth and sixth, but could not capitalize until Sidney Melton's RBI single in the seventh inning evened the score. Szydlowski reached on a two-base error and was lifted for pinch runner Nicole Pufahl who came around to score on Melton's base hit. After taking second on the throw, Melton moved to third on a groundout by Kelsi Jones. Jordan McNary followed on an infield single to place runners on the corners, but a pop up in foul territory sent the game into extra innings.
At the start of the eighth inning Kara Repp was placed as a runner at second base in accordance with the international tie-breaker rule. A sacrifice bunt by De los Reyes sent Repp to third and Gallant followed with an RBI double to give the Redbirds a 3-2 lead. Strandgard singled Gallant home to make the score 4-2.
The Cardinals attempted to rally in the bottom of the eighth when pinch-runner Paige Alford was placed at second and scored on a one-out single by Sims. Soles delivered a hit. Hailey Smith reached on a fielder's choice which saw Soles out at second, but placed runners on the corners with two outs. Illinois State pitcher Sarah Finck got Kristina Dillard to ground out to cut the rally short and end the game.
Shelby McCombs (3-1) took the loss allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits and striking out two in 5.0 innings of relief. Szydlowski was 2 for 3 with an RBI to pace the Cardinals offensively.
Finck (1-0) got the win after giving up three unearned runs on seven hits and striking out eight in 8.0 innings. Gallant went 3 for4 with a run and an RBI and Strandgard was 2 for 2 with two RBIs and a run to lead the Redbirds at the plate.
For the latest information on Louisville softball, log on to GoCards.com, or, for up-to-the-minute updates, follow the team's Twitter account at www.twitter.com/UofLSoftball or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LouisvilleSoftball.
