Softball Cards run-rule Cats 8-0 behind Becker's one-hitter -- Wednesday Cardinal Couple

( In today's Cardinal Couple...we look at Softball's huge win over the Cats and WBB is headed south for Thanksgiving!) 

CARDS SHUT OUT UK IN LEXINGTON

Louisville banged out ten hits against three different UK pitchers and Maryssa Becker allowed just one hit in a six-inning, 8-0 run-rule win over UK Tuesday night in Lexington.

Becker gave up a 1st inning single to UK leadoff batter Nikki Sagermann and that proved to be the only hit UK would muster against the Oregon sophomore.

The Cards, meanwhile, were having a hitting spree against UK.

Louisville took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second when Becker helped her own cause with a two-run homer to left on a 1-0 pitch with two outs...scoring Hailey Smith.

She pitched her way out of the only serious threat by UK in the third inning...the Cats had runners on second and third from a walk and throwing error with two outs...but Becker fanned UK's Christian Stokes to get out of the inning.

The Cards would add two more in the fourth when Whitney Arion singled and came home on a Becker single...her third RBI of the game. After Kelsi Jones reached on a fielder's choice Tiarra Sanabria delivered a two-out double down the right field line to score Jones.

Louisville almost reached a run-rule scenario in the fifth...scoring three runs. A single by Jordan McNary and walks to Brittany Duncan and Whitney Arion set the stage for Kelsi Jones' 3 RBI double to deep center. Jones was left stranded on third...but the score was 7-0 UofL.

The Cards tacked on a run in the sixth...Brittany Sims singling to start the inning and scoring on a Duncan single.

Becker retired the Cats in order in the bottom of the sixth to end the contest.



Louisville (25-14) returns to action Saturday at noon. ACC Conference foe Boston College comes to town for a doubleheader and then a single game on Sunday.

The Louisville win breaks a four game losing streak to UK.

Becker was magnificent in the circle for the win for the Cards and it was good to see Louisville get out the bats for this one. Maybe a bit strange that the Cats didn't use Kelsey Nunley...who has had Louisville's number as of late...but it's still a nice win for the Cards and is the first UofL women's sports win over UK in the 2014-15 season since golf took down the Cats in the Battle of the Bluegrass challenge back in late February.

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WBB SLATED FOR GULF COAST SHOWCASE

The Louisville WBB squad will be playing in the 2015 Gulf Coast Showcase early on in the 2015-16 schedule. 

The three day event takes place in Estero, FL and will be held Nov 27-29 in Germain Arena. Estero is on the gulf coast side of Florida...north of Naples and south of Ft. Myers. 

Eight contestants will vye for the title that UConn won in 2014...Louisville, Dayton, LSU, Stanford, Maine, Marist, Missouri and Purdue. 

A good early test for a young Cardinal squad to play three games in three days. Nine of the players on Jeff Walz's squad are freshmen or sophomore. 

Out of the eight teams...four played in the 2014 NCAA Tournament (UofL, Dayton, Stanford and LSU) and three participated in the WNIT. 

paulie
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