University of Louisville
Kentucky
Becker Leads Softball to 8-0 Win Over Kentucky
April 21, 2015 | Softball
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Maryssa Becker tossed a one-hit shutout and added a two-run homer to lead the University of Louisville softball team to an 8-0 win over No. 17 Kentucky Tuesday evening at John Cropp Stadium. The Cardinals improve to 25-14 while the Wildcats drop to 28-17.
"I thought we had a great all-around game tonight," said UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall. "Maryssa had a great game in the circle and we were able to get our offense going. We also had some tremendous defensive plays in the game."
Becker (11-5) dominated in the circle en route to her fourth complete game shutout of the season. The sophomore issued eight strikeouts in six innings and allowed only one hit - to the first batter of the game. She went on to retire 18 of the next 20 batters she faced. After a walk and a fielder's choice in the third inning, she retired 11 straight batters to end the game. She also helped her cause by going 2 for 2 at the plate with three RBIs on the night.
After the teams played through a scoreless first inning, Becker connected on a two-run homer to put the Cardinals on the scoreboard. Hailey Smith drew a walk and Becker sent a two-out shot over the left field fence for her team-best seventh homer of the season.
Louisville added two more runs in the fourth. Whitney Arion and Smith delivered back-to-back hits and Kelsi Jones reached on a fielder's choice that saw Smith out at second, but put runners on the corners with two outs. Becker stepped up to the plate and collected her third RBI of the game with a single up the middle to bring Arion home. Tiarra Sanabria's double plated Jones to increase the Cardinals' lead to 4-0.
A three-run double by Kelsi Jones in the fifth gave the Cards a 7-0 lead. Jordan McNary singled and took second on an error. A groundout by Soles sent McNary to third. Brittany Duncan walked and was lifted for pinch runner Morgan Meyer. A walk by Whitney Arion loaded the bases and one out later, Jones ripped her team-best 16th double of the season to centerfield
The Cards tacked on another run in the sixth when Brittany Sims singled, took second on an error and advanced to third on McNary's sacrifice bunt. A one-out RBI single by Duncan brought Sims home to complete the scoring.
In addition to Becker's offensive performance, McNary helped pace Louisville by going 2 for 3 with a run and Jones went 1 for 3 with three RBIs and a run. The Cardinals outhit the Wildcats 10-1 in the game and handed Kentucky its first eight-run rule loss of the season. The win also snaps Louisville's four-game losing streak to its in-state rival and moves the Cards' overall lead in the series to 19-17.
Shannon Smith (1-1) took the loss after allowing two earned runs on four hits and striking out four in 3.0 innings. Meagan Prince gave up two earned runs on four hits in 1.2 innings of relief and Erin Rethlake surrendered three earned runs in 1.1 innings. Nikki Sagermann registered Kentucky's lone hit in the game when she led off the bottom of the first with a single.
Louisville will return to action this weekend when the Cardinals play host to Boston College in a three-game ACC series April 25-26 at Ulmer Stadium. All three games will be shown on ESPN3.
