University of Louisville
KENTUCKY
Softball Falls to Kentucky 4-0
April 01, 2015 | Softball
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Highlights from the Kentucky/Louisville game
Sandy Pearsall discusses the loss to Kentucky
Brittany Sims discusses the loss to Kentucky
Kentucky 4 - Louisville 0 (PDF)Â 
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -The University of Louisville softball team fell 4-0 to No. 13/14 Kentucky Wednesday evening at Ulmer Stadium. The Cardinals (22-9) will return to action this weekend when they travel to Virginia Tech for a three-game ACC series.
"We certainly didn't hit the ball as well as I would have like us to... but Brittany Sims had a terrific day," said UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall. "We certainly put the ball deep, but it just didn't go far enough today, especially not with a pitcher like (Kelsi) Nunley on the mound... you're going to have to fight for hits and to score runs.
The game featured a pitcher's duel through four scoreless innings in which Louisville's Maryssa Becker allowed two hits and Kentucky's Kelsi Nunley surrendered one. The Wildcats (24-9) broke through with a run in the top of the fifth when Ansley Smith beat the throw on a two-out infield single and came around to score on Christian Stokes' double down the left field line.
The Cardinals threatened to score in the home half of the fifth when Brittany Sims doubled and took third on an error with one out. Nunley retired the next two batters thwart the scoring opportunity.
The Wildcats tacked on three more runs in the sixth to increase the lead to 4-0. Maisie Steed led off the frame with a single and Nikki Sagermann walked to set up Breanne Ray's three-run shot over the centerfield fence.
The Cards had another scoring opportunity in the seventh when Kayla Soles earned a one-out walk and Sims followed with a double to place two runners in scoring position. A groundout by Alison Szydlowski saw the runners stay put and Kelsi Jones stepped up to the plate and sent the ball to deep left field, but Kentucky's Kara Howard came up with the catch to end the game.
"Certainly we had the opportunities, but once we got people on, we just didn't get the support behind them- and that's where we've got to do better," said Pearsall. "On the other hand, tonight I saw us play probably the best we've played in the last six games. The focus was there, everything was there that we wanted."
Becker (8-3) took the loss, allowing four earned runs on eight hits and striking out five in 7.0 innings. Sims went 3 for 3 to pace the Cardinals offensively.
Nunley (11-5) got the complete game shutout, allowing five hits and striking out six. Stokes finished the game with a 2 for 3 , 1 RBI showing at the plate.
