University of Louisville
WESTERN KENTUCKY
Jones and Becker Lift Softball Past Western Kentucky 1-0
April 29, 2015 | Softball
Sandy Pearsall on the 1-0 win over Western Kentucky
Kelsi Jones on hitting the game-winning home run against Western Kentucky
Maryssa Becker on her one-hit shutout against Western Kentucky
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Sophomore Maryssa Becker tossed a one-hit shutout and senior Kelsi Jones backed her with a leadoff home run in the sixth to lift the University of Louisville softball team to a 1-0 win over in-state rival Western Kentucky Wednesday evening at Ulmer Stadium. The Cardinals improve to 28-15 while the Hilltoppers drop to 29-11 on the season.
"Tonight was a great win for us against a very good Western Kentucky team who has had a great season so far," said UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall. "I think (Western Kentucky pitcher) Miranda Kramer is one of the best pitchers in the country, but I was happy with our performance tonight. I thought Maryssa Becker threw a tremendous game and our defense made some great plays. Kelsi Jones had some great at bats and really came through for us late in the game."
Leading off the top of the sixth of a scoreless game, Jones worked the count full before taking a pitch over the right field fence. Her fourth home run of the season gave the Cardinals a 1-0 lead. Jordan McNary followed with a single, stole second and advanced to third on a fly out by Brittany Sims, but the score remained 1-0.
The game featured a pitcher's duel between Becker and Western Kentucky's Miranda Kramer who leads the nation in strikeouts. Neither team had a hit through three innings before Western Kentucky's Shawna Sadler connected on a two-out single up the middle for the first hit of the game. The Cardinals' first hit of the game - a single by Becker - came in the bottom of the fourth.
Becker (14-5) went on to retire all three batters she faced in the seventh to notch her sixth complete game shutout of the season and third in the last four games. The sophomore hurler struck out six en route to her second one-hitter of the season. Jones finished the game with a 1 for 2 performance at the plate.
Kramer (20-8) took the loss, allowing one earned run and scattering three hits while striking out three in a complete game effort. Sadler's single in the fourth stood as the only WKU hit in the game.
Louisville will conclude the regular season this weekend when with a trip to Pittsburgh for a three-game ACC series.
